A surge of something-love?-makes Janie's skin tingles. But it scares her, too, when she thinks of her future, always with this dream curse, hanging over her. She never though she's be with someone. Never imagined someone would sacrifice so much to deal with her strange problems. Wonders when Cabel will get tired of it all and give up on her.

Desperately she pushes that thought aside. Her lips are hot against his neck.

She tugs at his T-shirt and slips her quivering fingers under it, re-exploring Cabel's nubbly skin. Touching the scars on his belly, his chest. She knows that Cabel feels the same way she does, sometimes-like no one would want to be with him because of his issues. Maybe the two of us really could last, Janie thinks. Misfits, united.

Cabel's fingers trace a slow path from Janie's shoulder to her hip as they kiss. Then he slips his shirt over his head and tosses it aside. Presses against her. "That's a little better," he whispers in her ear.

"Only a little?"

The winter dusk of late afternoon falls into the room. Janie reaches for her blouse and slowly unbuttons it. Lets it fall open.

Cabel pauses and stares, not sure what to do. He closes his eyes for a moment and swallows hard.

She reaches between her breast and unhooks her bra.

And then she turns her face slowly toward him.

"Cabel?" She looks into his eyes.

"Yes," he whispers. He can barely get the word out.

"I want you to touch me," she says, taking his hand and guiding it. "Okay?"

Cabel feels a hard lump growing against the crotch of his pants.

"Oh god."

She pulls a newly purchased condom from her pocket and sets it on the skin of her belly.

Reaches for his jeans.

Cabel can only stare at Janie as she unbuttons his pants and slowly slides down the zipper. She looks up at him, her eyes glazed over in lust.

"I could use some help ya know."

Janie smiles sweetly and kisses him on the lips. Cabel shivers and his hands move down and he yanks his pants down so her is in nothing but his boxers. He then turns his attention to Janie's pants. He slips his hands around her waist and feels the soft skin of her stomach before swiftly unbuttoning her pants and sliding them down and off her slender legs.

"Cabel.." Janie whispers and trails kisses down to his neck and nibbles gently"

Cabel slips his hand into Janie's pants and slides it down slowly until he gets to her hot soaking wet center. She gasp slightly when she feels his cool hands against her virgin area.

"Janie," he whispers in a deep husky voice, "Are you positive this is what you want?" Janie nods quickly against his neck and sucks in a nervous breath when her panties inch down her legs. Cabel lays her on her back gently and slides her panties the rest of the way down and then slides his boxers down to show his soldier standing at attention. Janie's eyes widen and he gaze goes back up to his face as her rips open the condom and slides it over his penis. Janie sits up slightly so she is on her elbows and kisses him hard as her hovers his throbbing dick in front of her waiting to take her cherry.

"Ready baby?" Cabel whispers.

Janie's only response is a quick nod and she lays back down and takes little shallow breaths.

Cabel rubs her slightly with his dick to wet the condom before slowly pushing himself inside and watching her face the entire time for a signal to stop.

There isn't one.

Cabel pushes past her cherry and Janie gasp loudly as she feels it break and whimpers slightly but pushes her hips against Cabel as a sign to continue.

He does.

They grind in rhythm until Janie is whimpering and Cabel is out of breath. He collapses on top of Janie and rolls over so they are both on their sides. The just stare at each other as they catch their breath. They both smile at the same time as Janie cuddles under his chin and thinks, we might actually stand a chance.