A/N: Hello pals. Sorry this one has taken so long to get up. I'm still out of state, and my reception is sketchy at best. I am also without a computer. I did try to upload it yesterday, but it seems to have , I wanted to explore this comment for a while, and there may be an M rated extension in the works. Hopefully it's a pleasant read. let me know what you think! H. (from a shed somewhere in the south)

Remember that weekend at falls lake? Thank god their was no internet.

Delayed Gratification

Seeing the folded corner underneath various odd socks and underwear, Henry retrieved the weathered cardboard square. Flipping it over, a smile spread over his face. He remembered that weekend like it was yesterday, and although there was no publishing media, they certainly had evidence.

Inside the thick white borders was a black and white photo of Elizabeth. She was nude, in the centre of a large bed, and surrounded by messy sheets and plush pillows. She lay on her side, her head propped up on her elbow as she gazed into the camera lens; a lazy, sated smile graced her features. It was a stunning, candid photo, and he quickly remembered why he wanted to photograph her in that way. She was so relaxed, basking in post coital bliss. It was not long after she'd given birth to their second child, and her breasts were full and body rounded by remnants of pregnancy weight. She looked heavenly - angelic in a way. She was conscious of her body after two children, and Henry wanted her to see the wonder that he did. He didn't hear her enter their bedroom, and jumped when her voice floated through the silence.

"What are you smiling at?" He hadn't realised he was still grinning like a fool. She made her way over, peering at the photograph in her hands. Seeing the subject of the frame, she ducked her head and flushed profusely. "Henry…" looking away shyly, she couldn't understand why he was so captivated, still, after all these years. If she was honest, though, the thought still made her heart flutter.

"You look beautiful. You're even more beautiful now." He said quietly.

"We took pictures of more than just that…" She blushed again at the thought. "I thought you said you'd take care of those!?" She gave him a playful shove, mainly to conceal her misguided embarrassment.

"I did. But I kept this one."

He grinned at her, and there was no way she could be angry with him. Turning to face her, he slid a hand around her waist and pulled her to his body. He watched as her eyes darkened and flickered between his eyes and mouth. He slowly descended, pressing his warm, soft lips against hers.

-o-

Some time ago:

"This place is beautiful. It's perfect." She said, dragging her fingertips over the pine edgings of a window sill.

"And private..." Henry turned to her with a wink, pulling her close. She could feel his warm breath against her lips as he murmured. "No one will hear you scream…"

She snorted, rolling her eyes. "It sounds like you're planning on murdering me."

He paused thoughtfully before responding, and the way her cheeks flushed in response to his former comment was not lost on him. He reached around her body and squeezed her backside, pulling her flush against him. She squeaked in surprise, gazing up at him with mischief in her eyes. "Well, baby, you are… um… very vocal. So to some, it may sound that way."

Her lips parted and she blushed deeper. "Are you saying that I'm loud?!"

He pecked her lips. "Mmm, very."

"And you're planning on taking advantage of this seclusion then?" She smirked, playing along with his teasing.

Kissing down her neck, he hummed against her heated skin as she craned it to allow him greater access. "I am."She sighed heavily, melting into his touch and the feeling of his warm lips. He kissed her only a moment longer before pulling away, leaving her bereft. She groaned at the loss, but he merely smirked. "Someone's gotta do the cooking, and in the interest of self preservation, it's gonna be me." He teased.

She scowled, following him into the small kitchen. "You'd better make up for this."

He turned to her with a devilish smirk. "Don't you worry, sweetheart." And her heart thumped with excitement.

-o-

He stared in absolute adoration, like always. Every time he saw her nude form, it was like he was seeing her for the first time again. Cupping the jut of her hip, his eyes wondered up and down her body.

"Henry, you're staring." She whispered.

"You are positively enchanting." He murmured against the swell of her lips, feeling her sharp intake of breath as he spoke.

She looked down, pulling away from him slightly, snaking her own arms around her middle, shielding herself from his view. "I'm not." She said quietly, he almost didn't hear her. His heart ached, knowing the depth of her words. She felt unattractive and withered, neither of which were true in his mind. But the two pregnancies had taken a toll on her body, emotionally and physically. She wasn't the same woman that Henry had married, at least it felt that way. He saw the things she worried about, the marks and lines created by her body adjusting for their children. He saw the sacrifices she'd made for their growing family. They didn't see eye-to-eye on the significance of those mars.

He enveloped her hands with his, gently prying them from her body and placing them against his bare chest. "To me, you are." He touched her lips with his and whispered. "Let me show you how beautiful you are."

She sighed heavily. "And how will you do that?"

He turned his head, focusing on the clunky, 24 millimetre film and a boxy grey camera sitting on the bedside table. They'd not used it much, only photographing the occasional nature scene on their journey. Henry had just realised that his most captivating subject was beside him the entire time. "Elizabeth?"

"Mmm?" Her eyes darted up to meet his.

"Would um… would you let me photograph you?"

She flushed heavily, dropping her gaze and moving to pull away. "Henry, I don't think…"

"Baby, look at me." He stopped her, pulling her back into his arms. She tentatively met his eyes. "I want to show you. I want you to see what I see." He placed a dizzying kiss against her temple, lingering for a little longer. He kissed down her cheek and neck, murmuring against the soft skin. "Please. Let me show you." He could feel her resolve breaking let her eyes slip closed, dissolving into her husbands embrace. Henry was such a kind, honest man. He held nothing but her best intentions, and she trusted him irrevocably. "Please." His soft plea pulled her from her thoughts.

She lifted her eyes again, giving him a soft, nervous smile. "Okay."

He grinned, bringing a warm palm up to cup her cheek. "Thank you."

As he kissed her sweetly, she forgot all about his request momentarily until he shifted, moving them sideways. He broke from her lips and bent to collect the camera. Eying him carefully, she took her bottom lip between her teeth. Leaning in again, he whispered to her. "I love you. Let me show you."

He took a step back, placing a short distance between them and she shivered at the loss, suddenly feeling vulnerable again. Staring at the floor, she pushed the loose tendrils of hair from her face. "Look at me, Elizabeth." He pressed gently. As her eyes met his, he pushed the shutter. After a few moments, the camera produced a small photograph. Henry smiled as he inspected it. The lighting was low and exposure poorly adjusted, but lit enough so that her figure was clearly visible. The soft light that was had caught her eye and reflected her loving, yet shy gaze. "Look how stunning you are." He beckoned, she took the photograph from his hand, and he watched her eyes roam the image. She placed it gently down, taking the camera from his hands. A smile danced on the corners of her lips as she cupped his cheeks, moving in to hover over his lips.

"You are so beautiful." She breathed, pressing her lips to his in a tender kiss, pushing him back towards the bed. He pulled her close, bringing their nude bodies flush once again, but not without snagging the camera as he shuffled backwards. She squealed and giggled as he spun them suddenly, pushing her down onto the plush mattress. She lay back with a sly, lusty grin. Her eyes were dark and sultry as she stared up at him, now wanton and unashamed. He flashed her a wicked grin, snapping another photograph that would only ever be seen by them. Tossing the camera back onto the bed, he crawled on top of her, bringing their lips together again. The developed print floated to the floor, waiting to be discovered at a later time, where they could relive the elation and energy captured in the single moment. The rest was history.