Thanks to DaniWilder for Beta, couldn't have been easy. ^_^

Last fluff warning!

Her hands are always soft. How does she get them so soft and perfect? They are beautiful; slender and delicate, yet firm. Caressing her hand absent-mindedly with his thumb, Rodney stared at nothing in particular as they entered the local mall. Warm too, much warmer than they were on the plane yesterday. His eyes glazed over as he remembered just how close to death his true love had been. The brown-eyed doctor next to him gave his hand a small squeeze as she met his gaze. The astrophysicist blushed and leaned down to press a chaste kiss to her cheek. Just as his lips left her smooth skin, warmth radiated out from the touch turning her cheeks a rosy pink.

Jennifer looked away shyly but then turned back as she eagerly pointed out, "So you never told me what we're doing at the mall. Do I get even a small hint?" The young woman let go of his hand only to slip her arm past his elbow to pull him closer.

"You'll just have to wait and see now won't you?" Rodney grinned down at his date. I can't believe she's happy with me. He pulled her into the nearest store, reluctantly released her arm and sat her down on the closest bench. Walking over to the summer dress rack, the genius started rifling through the silky materials until he came to a mid-length white spaghetti strap dress. The flowing cloth lightly sat on the hanger as Rodney pulled it out for Jennifer to see.

"It's beautiful," the awe-struck physician whispered as she feathered the tips of her fingers along the enchanting dress. Her fingers swayed with the curves, lightly smoothing out the minute wrinkles.

"Would you like to try it on?" the head scientist asked, holding it out for her.

Jennifer smiled coyly, "Two dresses in two days, Rodney? That's more than I've worn in the past two years." The glowing woman took the dress anyway and happily walked to the changing rooms. A rustle of clothing could be heard as she changed out of her blouse and jeans and into the figure-fitting dress.

Rodney followed close behind but stopped at the rack next to the door. The restless man started sifting through the different shirts on the rack in an effort to occupy himself. Was it really just yesterday that I could have lost her forever? I never would have known how much my heart pounds when I kiss her. Never would I have seen the sparkle in her eyes telling me without words just how much she loves me or her beautiful smile shine on me. I was so close to losing her, if I hadn't gone when I had, I wouldn't have gotten the chance to know her, hold her or kiss her. His face became hot with color. It's a good thing that's as far as we got or I wouldn't be able to control myself in public around her. Running his fingers through his short hair to calm down, he took a deep, steadying breath. The flustered man was so lost in thought that he barely noticed the door to the changing room start to slide open. When he slowly lifted his eyes to the doorway, all thoughts were quickly forgotten as Jennifer came into sight.

Running her hands down the sides of her waist to flatten the nonexistent folds, she nervously glanced at him and asked quietly, "Does it look all right?"

The gaping physicist simply stood there with an arm loosely leaning against the rack to keep his knees from buckling. As thought started to return, the genius finally answered, "Jennifer, you look," Stunning, gorgeous, astounding, beautiful, "perfect."

Bowing her head and allowing her curly hair to form a curtain around her face to hide the sudden rise of color in her cheeks, she gave the floor a small smile, "Thank you Rodney." The brown eyes of the physician looked up to find he wasn't where he had been standing a second ago, neither was his gaze on her, but on the blonde woman at the cash register over on the other side of the store. Feeling just a little jealous, the red-faced doctor called out in a harsh tone with hands on hips, "Rodney!" Her eyebrows were scrunched together right above her narrowed eyes and set mouth.

Her supposed date spun around to face the agitated woman calling his name looking confused at the mad expression she was wearing. She looks absolutely furious. What did I do?

The young American took on a slightly surprised look as she saw his wallet out in front of him. "Oh sorry, I didn't know you were buying something," the embarrassed physician muttered, softening her glare.

"Sorry, I'm finishing up now. Could you come here for a minute?" Rodney asked with a smile.

Jennifer walked over quietly with a remorseful look in her eyes. The grinning physicist trapped her between him and the counter with his arms underneath hers when she got closer. Leaning in, he brushed his lips against hers, briefly touching each reddened lip.

The small town woman's eyes widened sending her eyebrows shooting up and under her flowing bangs. The distracted physician thought she felt a slight scratch under one arm but forgot all about it in the next second when she finally closed her eyes in pure bliss. All she could feel were Rodney's bare arms brushing the undersides of her arms and his mouth moving slowly and delicately over hers. A small beep was heard and the Canadian pulled away with a widened grin leaving Jennifer with a face full of desire. Handing money to the cashier without so much as a glance, the genius linked arms with the soft-skinned woman of his dreams and headed for the door.

"Wait…wait Rodney," the light-headed doctor pulled at his arm as rational thought started to return. "I have to change back into my own clothes and didn't you just buy something? Shouldn't you be carrying a bag?"

"Right, your clothes," the determined man turned around leaving her next to the entrance and quickly grabbed her clothes from the changing room.

Piecing together his abnormal actions, the young American was astounded. As he came back towards her, she raised an eyebrow and lightly accused, "You bought the dress, didn't you?"

"Yes, you looked so beautiful and perfect and wonderful and stunning and radiant," the Canadian admitted right away as he started rambling.

"Rodney," Jennifer's smile was growing, "as much as I would like you to continue with the flattering compliments, you really should have asked me."

"I'm sorry Jennifer, you're right, I should have asked first," the astrophysicist said with a broken voice. I screwed up already. I bet I made her uncomfortable too. Not exactly the way I wanted this to go today. I should just keep my brilliant plans to myself. His head dropped almost the whole way to his chest in much the same way as a kid's does when they are scolded.

"But I'm glad you did, I really do love the dress and it fits perfectly," the beaming woman smiled as she tilted his head up to meet hers with her gentle hand. Locking eyes, she smiled and intertwined their hands. "There's no way we're returning it now though, because I'm not taking it off for quite a while. It feels too good," she confessed with a content sigh, reveling of the feeling of the soft cloth wrapped around her tingling skin and gripping his hands more tightly in hers.

Grinning and gaining back some of his confidence, the scientist pulled her out of the store, out of the mall and to the rented car. As Rodney got in and watched her smooth out the dress from under her and sit down eloquently after depositing the bag of clothes in the backseat, he asked, "This is your hometown, Chippewa Falls, anywhere special you want to go today?"

The American thought it over for a minute and her eyes lit up when the perfect place came to mind. "The place I would go as a child to escape from everything," the medical doctor sighed thoughtfully and reminisced with a certain fondness for the small town in her voice. "It's in a field not too far from my house. I haven't been there in ages, it was my private spot growing up. I'd love to share it with you," she continued, getting more and more excited.

The rented car's engine roared to life as the key was turned in the ignition. "Sounds just right for the quality time I have planned today," he smiled, reaching over to briefly squeeze her hand before bringing it back to the steering wheel. Swiveling his head every which way while backing out of the stall carefully, he thought to himself, I have to show her just how much she means to me, how much she affects me. She's the world and deserves to know it.

TBC

Thanks for giving it a read, more will come hopefully sometime soon.