Chloe sat on the lounger on the deck of the bungalow drinking a cup of tea, staring out the sunrise announcing the new day. She was in the soft cotton complimentary bathrobe that made her feel like she was wrapped in a hug. She closed her eyes letting the warmth and peace seep into her soul. She was married to A.C and that brought a smile to her lips. Life was funny, in an ironic way. She had spent years, pining for a man whose destiny was intertwined with her cousin's. It was really hard sometimes to imagine those two together. Chloe shook her head, amazing was the only way she thought of her husband. Thinking of A.C that way brought a smile to her face and a blush to her cheeks. She stood setting her mug down on the rail of the deck and her hands absently slipped to her abdomen, imagining the life growing there. Would there be a daughter? Curls and mischief? Would there be a son, smile, and cool attitude like daddy.
"Not even married 24 hours and you've already left my bed? Now I know I've lost my touch." A.C spoke from behind her. Chloe turned to see A.C with a sheet wrapped around his waist. She had to bite her lip, his body was so chiseled, and her gaze slid from his face to his rock hard abs and it stirred a need in her she knew would never go away.
"Nah, I just came out here to enjoy the sunrise and wrap my brain around the events of my very recent past." She grinned. He smiled and stepped up to her and wrapped her up into his arms and pulled her into him.
"And, have you come to any conclusions?" he grinned.
"Several," she smiled.
"Really?" he asked as he scooped her up and carried her back into the bungalow. "Please do tell? I'm all ears." His voice was low and husky. Chloe smiled up at him.
"One? I love you, two—just identical to one and three is pretty much the same." She laughed.
He grinned at her as he gently placed her on the bed. He then gently lay next to her on his side with his head propped onto his hand. "I woke up and you weren't here and I was a little scared I dreamed you." He spoke softly; his eyes held a shadow of fear in them. "Then I saw the band…." He paused. "You looked so peaceful out there I didn't want to disturb you."
"Turkey you were watching me?"
"Please," he grinned. "Then you were touching your belly," he then leaned and put a kiss on her abdomen, "Well, lets just say, I started to have some very… interesting, thoughts." He grinned.
"Like?" She asked him innocently. A.C moved to his back and pulled Chloe to straddle his thighs. He reached up and pulled open the drawstring of the robe. He then very gently pushed the robe open.
"I want you, just like this touching me, holding me," his voice just above a whisper. He sat up and Chloe slid to his lap. "Good morning wife, welcome to Hawaii," he spoke and kissed her slowly and lazily. "This was my home away from home; I want to show you everything."
"Later," she spoke definitively, "For now? I want to see if we can beat last night's record, you up for it?" she grinned wickedly. A.C grabbed her hand gently and put it on his arousal.
"Dunno wife, you tell me?" he grinned. She giggled as she kissed him and pushed him onto his back.
--
They had a jeep out in the bungalow parking lot waiting for them. After a lazy morning in bed, and a lazy shower, the two were finally dressed and ready to start the day. A..C was Chloe's chauffer.
"So, we're doing what again?" she asked as they made their way to the down town area.
"We were invited to Pete's parent's house for dinner tonight. It's a sign of honor to bring a gift." He shrugged.
"How many families have you been adopted by?" she teased.
"Ha, ha, ha," he winked at her as he parked the jeep in a lot. "When I first realized the oceans were my playground I swam every where. When I met Pete, he was getting bullied and sort of put a stop to it."
"So even then you were a hero?" she smiled as she got out of the jeep to greet him at the front. He was holding his hand out to her. She took it and he pulled her in for a quick kiss.
"A very young and impetuous one to boot." He grinned. "So," he spoke as he led her down the street, "When I first came here it was sort of like," he paused. "Like finding the lost city of gold."
"That's so cute."
"Well I mean Miami was nice but I never really left the area of our home to go into town let alone the night life. I gave my father his share of wrinkles yeah, but a lot of that stuff I just wasn't ready for."
"That makes sense." She grinned. As they passed a window there were several flyers for up coming events. She paused and pulled him to a stop to read them. "Surfing competition tomorrow?" she looked up at him.
"Hey, we're on our honeymoon I didn't even register." He spoke putting his hands up in defense.
"Do you want to?" she asked.
"I want to do what ever you want to do. I can surf here any time."
"Not answering the question Curry." She grilled. He only shook his head. She saw the other one was an Atlantis Days. "Care to explain this one?" she pointed to the flyer. He blushed deeply and took her hand in his and led her down the street to the boutique section of town.
"I think I mentioned once that a lot of," he looked around. "us." He sort of ducked his head. "Lived or visited here. There is a tiny village on the other side of this island that has this celebration every year. It would be like going to a renaissance fair. It's themed like that."
"Have you ever been to it?"
He rolled his eyes and laughed still blushing. "I admit I got curious, especially since I've actually been there."
"And?" she encouraged.
"It's very well done although inaccurate."
"Can we go?" she asked knowing he was just a little uncomfortable with the subject.
"You really want to?" he stopped and looked at really uncertain.
"I probably won't ever get to go there again, so, yeah. Color me curious?" she teased.
"If you really want to sure we can go," He pulled her into a hug. "I love you baby!" he purred in her ear.
"You keep that up and I'll never get to see any of your play ground."
"What?" he looked at her confused.
"I'm gonna have to drag you back to the bungalow and have my merry way with you." She kissed his cheek. He only laughed and he took her hand and they continued on down the street.
After a few hours of shopping they got some sandwiches and drinks and made it to the beach. A.C seemed to be navigating them with single minded purpose. He found them a quasi secluded spot with a great view of the ocean. They sat to eat lunch.
"I'm so not used to this version of you," Chloe spoke then taking a bite of sandwich.
"Version of me?" he asked wiping his mouth from his sloppy sandwich.
"Oh yeah, there are several." She looked at him and cocked her head.
"Please do enlighten me?" he challenged with a smile.
"There is the weekend you, no stress, no work, laid back and playful." She paused to take a drink.
"Go on?"
"Then there is the hero version and that's pretty self explanatory. The teenager who still hangs with boys and plays video game until all hours of the morning, the teacher…
"And the version you're getting now?"
"The quiet, contemplative, philosopher guy. He's charming, loving, and very introspective."
"Really," he spoke dryly. "Well Mrs. Curry do you have any idea what all of those versions of me have in common?" She looked at him confused. "They are all head over heals in love with you," he moved to kiss her warmly. "The reason I picked this spot?"
"It's pretty," she spoke looking at the palms and flowers around them. He moved to sit behind her and wrapped her in the cradle of his arms.
"Good guess, but no." he kissed her temple. "About 20 miles that way." He pointed out to sea "and about as many down below the surface, I was born." Chloe gasped. "Another reason why Hawaii is so important to me." Chloe turned to kneel and face him as if truly seeing him for the first time.
"Ohh," she spoke. He reached and put his big hands on her abdomen. "I've heard stories of pregnant women getting agitated with people touching their tummies."
"People, not husbands; and certainly not you." She kissed him. "I'm honored that I can get close to where you were born, it means a lot to me." She smiled. "And if you want to sign up for the competition tomorrow be my guest. I haven't seen you compete either." She grinned. He cupped her face with one of his hands and pulled her into a very passionate kiss.
"Don't you two ever come up for air?" Pete asked as he walked on the beach.
"Dude, come on, she's hot." A.C spoke laughing. Chloe was blushing as she turned around to see his friend approach them.
"Yeah true she is hot." Pete smiled.
"So how did you find me anyway?" he asked.
"Come on man you used to bring all your girls here," he spoke with a straight face. Chloe turned and shot him a look. A.C only shook his head.
"Nahh, I'm only teasing." Pete spoke laughing. "I was on my way down to Nana's and I saw you."
"How is she doing?" A.C asked.
"Not great, Ma thinks she will be leaving the island soon."
"Dude I'm sorry."
"Yeah, me too but you know its how it's supposed to be right?" he shrugged. "She's not even going to make it to dinner tonight."
"Yipes," A.C spoke.
"Well, I gotta run and go see her and then get stuff for tonight, see you two later." He turned and ran up the beach.
"Who's nana? His grandmother?"
"Not exactly." He spoke. Chloe got herself comfortable again in his arms. "Ready for another story?" he asked.
"From you? They're my favorite." He settled his hands on her abdomen and she rested her hands atop his.
"So the myth of the elders on this island is that the sun and water keep them from aging. Well Nana isn't aging or let me take that back hasn't aged quickly because she's.."
"No way!"
"Yeah, she's Atlantean."
"But?"
"I told you our lives were finite, we aren't immortal."
"So how did Pete's family?"
"They don't know any more about her except she's Nana and she's family. She was a young woman when she came to this island. She saved his great grandfather and from then on was taken care of by his family."
"So how do you?"
"How do I know? I met her once-and no, it's not like, like recognized like, at least I don't think so." He spoke. "She told me. I wasn't very old at the time. I was frankly a little terrified that she would out me." He kissed the top her head when he felt her squeeze his hands.
"Do you need to go see her?" she asked.
"Not yet, I'll talk to Pete and see how she is. I may just visit her and take her back to Atlantis." He shrugged.
"But won't the family miss her?"
"Not in the literal way." He frowned. He hadn't really told her this part about himself and was scared that she would reject him.
"Ok," she spoke and leaned her head back against him. "I do have to tell you that I've learned to read you really well. Do you know that YOU bite YOUR lip when you're getting ready to tell me something you don't think I'll like?"
"Oh really," he challenged. She prattled of several key examples. "Ok, ok." He moved one of his hands off her belly to tickle her side and she laughed.
"No fair."
"It isn't is it?" He kissed her head again then paused. "I never really told you how I knew to find you in Atlantis?"
"Wow that's a memory, but know you didn't,"
"Now, I need to preface that I cannot read minds or move things with my mind other than water."
"A little freaked out here," she spoke looking up at him." He kissed her fore head.
"It's a simple ability really," he smirked. "Over at the salon, I used a little water and would be easily described as a post hypnotic suggestion to sort of guide and glean the information I needed.
"So," she spoke wriggling from his grasp and standing. She dusted the sand off of her and moving away from him. "Saying you're just a little, little." She looked around and saw a group of tourists on the beach and held her tongue. "Saying that is like saying you're just a little Irish."
"Chloe," he spoke standing behind her. "It's not something I use on a daily basis. The purpose of it at the time was to get to you in hurry. I maybe cut a few corners." He spoke turning her to face him. "Using it for this purpose would be to maybe help her see Atlantis one more time." Chloe buried her face in his shirt and he could feel it get damp from tears. He gently pushed her back and she wiped her eyes roughly and sniffed loudly.
"Stupid hormones." Chloe spoke. "I understand that I do, in here." She tapped her head. "But here," she put her hand over her heart, "Is another reason you're so different from me and I….."
A.C kissed her softly. "The hormones aren't stupid, they're apart of you." He whispered and put a stray hair behind her ear. "And it's ok for your heart to feel that way. I should have said something much sooner. We are totally different," he smiled. "In a lot of ways we're the same too and that's ok. You are entitled to feel how you do. I will never deny you that."
"Ohhh, there you go being Mr. Wonderful again." She spoke wrapping her arms around him.
"Which one was he, was he on your list?" he asked teasing. Chloe just reached and pinched his bottom in retaliation. He kissed her cheek. "Ok enough serious talk. There is a coffee bean plantation about 20 minutes from here."
"Ugh, but I can't drink coffee," she whined.
"You aren't going to pregnant forever love." He laughed and they cleaned up their trash and made their way back to the jeep.