Ollo my friends, I am so sorry these take so long. Let's hope it's worth it to you. :)

OK, first off you must all go worship Hunger4Righteousness, for without her this would take even longer. She is a wonderful muse and I don't think I tell her often enough how grateful I am that she can put up with my nonsense. ;) Thank you H4R!

Yes, I stole something from Extreme Ghostbusters for this one. My eternal respect and a virtual cookie to those who can spot it. Sorry, Eduardo, you're cool but there's a NEW goatee in town! *Wicked laugh*

The Journey To Us

Chapter 4: Beach Blanket Boingo

As the jet cycle zipped through the sky towards the shoreline, Megamind was, outwardly at least, the picture of cool. His innards, however, were doing the dance of joy, stomach flip-flopping and heart palpitating. All due to the adventuresome lass hugging him tightly, who to his astonishment loved him and didn't care who knew. She had even taken notice of the fact that the cycle was quieter than it had been during her previous ride and expressed her appreciation that he thought to equip it with a muffler so they could speak without yelling over the engine. Little things like that impressed her just because he'd thought of her and set out to do something nice.

He was so elated that had he been alone he might have been executing barrel rolls and loop-de-loops. But he would take no chances with his mate aboard. She was more precious to him than all the money and power in the world. Absentmindedly he began humming an old forgotten tune.

With her ear pressed to his back as she watched the waves crash below Roxanne heard the melodic rumbling in his chest and curiosity got the better of her. "What song is that?" she asked near his ear, "I don't recognize it."

"Oh!" Snapping out of his reverie, Megamind stammered, "Oh, well it's ... well, it's just a silly old song that came to mind ... a bit like our situation at the moment ..."

"Us? Really? How so?" When he hesitated she prodded, "Sing me the part that makes you think of us." Just for good measure she added, while letting her nose play with his earlobe, "Pretty pleeeease?" And zing went the strings of his heart.

After spending his adult life showing a taste for mostly hard rock & heavy metal, he was a bit embarrassed to admit that in his youth he had enjoyed such bubblegum music, but he could refuse her nothing, especially when she asked so sweetly. "Well, it was just part of the chorus that popped up ..." and he began to sing.

"You'll be the queen of my highway, my motorcycle mama
and we'll see the world from my Harley."

Then he spoke, quickly adding, "So, it's not a Harley per se, but there's quite a few Harley parts on it."

It wouldn't have mattered to her if it was a pedal car. She loved the sound of his voice anyway, and hearing his serenade had her feeling more smitten than ever. She hugged him tighter and released a happy sigh. "Cute song ... and your voice is dreamy."

He'd had a couple of seconds to consider how he felt about being accused of singing something "cute" when her sultry tones declaring his vocals "dreamy" registered in his consciousness. Warmth washed through him and he felt more content than he'd ever been in his life. He circled over a secluded section of beach and submitted it for her approval. "This looks like as good a place as any to have our picnic, what say you?"

"Beautiful." Roxanne sounded her agreement. The jet cycle swooped down to the sand. Megamind set the vehicle down then dismounted and helped Roxanne step down into his embrace. "It's kind of chilly, huh? I should have brought a jacket." She slid her arms around his back under the cape to keep the breeze from raising goose bumps on her arms. "Guess you'll just have to keep me warm," she said softly as her nose joined his in an Eskimo kiss.

That shouldn't be difficult, with the fever you've set ablaze in me, temptress. His thoughts found voice in a vaguely evil chuckle as he journeyed deeper into her eyes while engaging in nose fencing. "If you like I can build a fire, then we'll be nice and cozy," he offered.

"Mmmm ... good idea!" Roxanne encouraged his romantic notions with a soft kiss. "I'll lay out the blanket and food while you scrounge up some driftwood."

There was certainly plenty of it around, so in less than a minute Megamind had gathered quite an impressive pile of the dryer pieces and then sat on the blanket beside his love, smiling at her adoringly.

Roxanne noted the woodpile and cocked her head curiously at her paramour. "Aren't you going to light it?" she queried.

Without taking his eyes off her or breaking his smile, he swiftly pulled his De-Gun from its holster and fired at the wood, coaxing roaring flames from the gnarled logs. The corners of his mouth hitched up higher as he spun the gun on his finger before sliding it back in place on his thigh.

Roxanne was clearly amused, her nose wrinkling as she giggled at his graceful, and just a bit cocky, performance. "Show off." she teased him. "Was that the destroy setting? What if we'd been suddenly attacked and you needed the dehydration setting quickly?"

The saucy alien stretched out on his side, propping his head on the heel of his left hand. "You knew the job was dangerous when you took it, Sweetheart."

Roxanne snickered at his paraphrasing of Super Chicken. "Thanks for not calling me Fred." This had them both dissolving into giggles.

"Well, my dear," he began in his most masculine timbre, as he removed his gloves, "what would you like me to feed you first?"

Roxanne was only slightly surprised to hear a voice from the back of her mind mutter something about another taste of those sweet blue lips, gently scolded that naughty part of her psyche to wait its turn and scanned the snack spread. "I'll have an apple slice topped with cheddar cheese."

It was Megamind's turn to tilt his head in question. "Fruit and cheese together?" One side of his nose wrinkled a bit.

"Yeah!" she replied brightly. "They're good together. I've even heard people melt cheese on hot apple pie ... we'll have to try that sometime."

He wasn't convinced but pieced the combo together and held it out for her to take a bite. He found himself envying the dairy-laden apple as her lips enveloped it. Something in the back of his mind was doing a pretty good Jiminy Cricket impression, blathering something about self-control but he couldn't be bothered. It was just too fascinating a show not to watch. He swallowed and let out a throaty sigh.

Roxanne was thoroughly enjoying seeing her man's reaction to her eating. She milked it a bit by licking her lips, smirking at the flustered look and breathy growl it prompted from him. She was feeling very confident and playful and then got the idea to get something going for her viewing pleasure. "Want to try it? I think you'd like it." She picked up the two ingredients and waved the finger foods teasingly in his direction.

The alien's eyebrows arched then dipped down as he assumed a playfully predatory expression, causing his love to snicker. His head moved forward and strong white teeth gnashed on a bite of the snack she waggled at him. He savored the blend of flavors and had to admit, "That is good! I'd never have thought it." He closed his lips over the remainder of the treat in his girlfriend's fingers, kissing the tips as they released the food. The tip of his tongue darted out and flicked across the pads of her fingers as he eyed her with a wicked waggle of his brow.

Roxanne's eyes grew wider at his oral attentions, and her smirk turned more crooked. Mnff, how can his lips be so soft and so strong at the same time? And if he's as good with that tongue as he is with those lips, I'm in big trouble ... hnnn but oh, man that is my kind of trouble. Deciding what's good for the goose is good for the gander, Roxanne voiced her next selection. "Now I wanna try strawberries dipped in whipped cream."

The owner of the largest most complex brain on the planet became aware of sections of that impressive organ going numb as he wrapped it around the implications of her choice. He purposely made a messy job of dipping so there'd be plenty of excess whipped cream on his fingers. Oh, there is still some semblance of an evil streak in me, isn't there? The look in her eyes suggested she knew he'd overloaded on purpose ... and liked the idea. His gaze bored into her as he beheld her slowly lap a dollop of cream from the tip of the strawberry and then slid her lips over the moist fruit and closed them over his fingertips, grazing her teeth against them biting into the soft seedy surface and tugging it from his grip. He didn't realize his breathing had become so ragged during her exaggerated show of chewing, though this time she didn't lick her lips. She wasn't going to bother since she knew she'd be adding more in a few seconds. As she leaned closer and gently sucked the remaining dessert topping from his fingers one by one, his brain had reverted to mostly simple, primal thoughts that had little use for language. In fact the only three words that his mind was capable of forming as the soft suction of her luscious lips caressed his fingers were: LORD ... HAVE ... MERCY.

Wow, maybe I better go easy on him before he goes all Scanners on me. Roxanne dialed back from sexy to shy, and started a conversation to distract from the heat that threatened to engulf them both. "I really liked you singing to me before ... I've heard some lyrics that remind me of you too."

The fog surrounding the giant blue head cleared a bit and he focused on her and flashed a sweet smile. "Really? Oh, please tell me I get to hear you sing them!" His enthusiasm spilled over and he grasped one of her hands in both of his.

Heh, that did the trick. "OK ... but my voice isn't as good as yours, so just remember, you asked for it." She took a deep breath and sang, softly and a bit unsteady at first but settling into a richer performance quickly.

"I don't care who you are, where you're from, what you did, as long as you love me."

Megamind knew he wore a lovesick expression, but couldn't help it, that was how he felt. "Roxanne," he whispered, "I love your voice. It's beautiful." One of his slender arms reached out and hooked around her waist, pulling her closer. His face nestled into the soft recesses of her neck and as she released a pleased moan he raised his mouth nearer to her ear and said in a low smooth purr, "You could sing the phone book and I'd be happy."

Ohhhh, that was a short trick ... the sensual pastel lips explored every curve of her ear, barely ghosting over several very sensitive spots and making it even worse by letting a quiet chuckle waft over his lips to tickle a spot deeper inside her ear that the lips could never reach, when he observed her reaction; head tilted back, upper lip twitching up a tiny bit, and her hands grasping at his back while a needy whimper escaped her throat. Having identified the spot that seemed to arouse her the most, he decided to see what effect a little lingual stimulation would have. Upon the tip of his tongue slithering quickly into the notch that ear buds sit in, her desire flared and a gravelly groan broke free as she clutched his body nearer. OhhhH! Mmm, yeahhh ... ohh, two can play this game, space cowboy! Self control took a vacation and she dove in to feast on his tender neck. Feeling his body arch against her and hearing the strangled cry of pleasure from him, she knew he was just as malleable to her touch as she was to his. She undid the clasp of his cape and exposed a tender spot just where his neck met his collarbone, which she kissed softly and then sucked on gently, then not so gently. He gasped and hissed under her ministrations.

"Augh! Roxanne! Y-you're driving me craAzy!" Their eyes caught each other, both sets dark with lust. They pressed their faces close together and brushed lips, breathing heavily.

"Yeah, well ... we're even then," the reporter mumbled before locking lips in a deep, warm kiss that had her wondering just how long she thought she could hold out against her persistent libido. How the Hell does he make me feel this way? I never got THIS excited making out with other guys. A vague thought reminded her that she was in that time of life when women's drives went into overdrive, presumably Mother Nature's way of trying to offer incentive for getting in on the breeding years.

Megamind was riding high on a gnarly wave of hormones like he hadn't dealt with since high school. His body kept begging his mind to let it do things he wasn't sure were appropriate so soon. The body declared his brain a party pooper. His brain took umbrage to that and set to work on a plan to give his body a peace offering. Since the main thing it had been campaigning for was to shift position from being alongside Roxanne's body to being more ... above her, but mentally he was certain that would be too aggressive, he deduced that it might not be perceived as threatening if the roles were reversed. He snaked his left arm under her right arm and up around her back, allowing him an excuse to roll onto his back, his grip around her waist with his right arm naturally carrying her upper body to rest atop him, her hip leaning in making contact with his groin. There! Happy now, you horndog? Just try not to grind against her too much ... His hands began to wander over her blouse, body and mind finally agreeing; the texture of the fabric felt exquisite.

Hmnnnggg ... I knew he'd like this top! For her part, Roxanne was doing her damnedest not to climb the rest of the way on top of the taut body that felt so good pressed into hers. She was waging her own battle with her physical self, but her body was more cunning than her mind gave it credit for. It gained ground by tiny increments, rocking gently forward and relaxing, but pushing further each time. Her mind didn't really notice because it was too busy arguing with her leg, absolutely rejecting its petition to hook around his thigh and pull him in even closer.

Ugnnnh! Yes, I'm aware that she's doing most of the grinding but that's good! Doesn't mean you should try to keep up the same pace! Maybe because of their singing earlier, random lyrics drifted across his mind in an attempt to distract from thinking what she would feel like without all those clothes in the way. And you want her, and she wants you, no one, no one, no one ever is to blame. In the spirit of those lyrics, his body began convincing him that if she was allowing things to progress this far, maybe she wanted more. And if his lady wanted something, he should see that she got it. Well, that makes sense, she is a passionate woman, after all. Eventually she's going to want me to 'rock her world,' right? I just hope I'm up to the task. A sharp twitch in his crotch was the body's equivalent of saying "You're kidding, right?" His body knew it was winning this argument. And it was pretty sure Roxanne was on its side, the way she was behaving. The rhythmic ebb and flow of the waves seemed to urge them on at a subconscious level.

She was faltering in the debate with her flesh as well. By the time she realized what her body had been up to, her leg had worked out a compromise by sneaking in between his legs. One muscular thigh found itself wrapped in the embrace of two soft feminine versions of itself. It happily obliged to conspire with her body's plans by rising up to meet her gyrations, giving her something solid to press into and also keeping her from sliding backwards too much.

He could detect a change in her body heat felt through his pants as his hips rose against her and the source of a now-maddening throb rubbed nearer to its ultimate destination. His brain was operating on precious little blood and so was allowing the more primitive portion of the organ to take charge. Its version of command was to decree Unless she stops the festivities, let the beat go on. His body heartily approved and celebrated by grasping her waist more tightly and hauling her up squarely on top of him finally.

Upon her weight settling atop him both felt a bolt of arousal shoot through them, as the boldest part of his anatomy nuzzled firmly against its puny counterpart. Their heated kiss broke in a mutual groan, breath mingling and warming their cheeks, and their eyes locked. They had been operating purely on physical instinct, following one of the most basic of primal messages; if it feels good, do it. But the humanity they encountered in each other's eyes snapped them back to more thoughtful matters. It felt like seeing into each other's souls. And somehow, pillaging each other's bodies just didn't feel completely right yet. Oh, elements of it felt wonderful, but ... they both had reason to need more security before throwing away the oars of their relationship and setting it adrift on a violent sea of passion.

Concentration was still ragged as their breathing, since that very act caused their bodies to move against each other just enough to stall cohesive thought. Roxanne broke the tension with a shy smile, and Megamind revealed a sheepish grin. "Sorry ..." he mumbled softly, "... I think I got carried away ..." He bit his lip, and briefly wondered about the origins of that action ... maybe I'm just trying to keep from babbling, he mused.

Roxanne grinned and caressed his cheek lovingly. "No sorrys," she asserted. "If you didn't notice, I wasn't pushing you away with my lips, I was giving as good as I got." A devilish streak flashed through her for a moment and she indulged herself in another step from the "Time Warp" dance, a slow pelvic thrust to make a point. "Just because it's not as obvious on girls doesn't mean we don't feel the same way." This time she was afforded the opportunity to watch his reaction. That expression was worth a little more frustration.

"OHh gawd Roxanne!" he growled, grasping her hips tighter to keep his hands too occupied to execute their latest plan, getting a couple of handfuls of those sweet round cheeks filling out that denim so nicely. Stop it, you animal! he admonished himself sternly, even while he buried his nose in her hair and tasted the skin of her neck. His hips refused to be entirely still.

Oh, boy ... is this an 'E-ticket' ride? her poor muddled brain managed to ruminate before blanking out during the pleasurable sensations he was sending through her nervous system. In a last desperate attempt to regain control, a small voice in the back of her mind resorted to reminding her exactly where they were. Do you really want to do this here? You will get sand in places you didn't know you HAD places! "Ohhh-kaaaay, I-I think we better take a break!" she yelped nervously as his hands slid up her back under her shirt.

He had no choice but to offer his hands the chance to slip unnoticed under the cloth that, as soft and interesting a texture as it was, paled in comparison to her silky skin. Otherwise they were poised to raise a mutiny and pounce on the soft buttocks that could hypnotize him like a cobra when she walked. He winced when she rolled off him, the slide down was nice but immediately followed by the body protesting the breaking of contact. You've done it now. Feeling a bit exposed, he rolled back onto his side and casually draped his cape in front of himself. Yeah, that'll work, Captain Cranium ... she couldn't have noticed you poking her with it like a deranged mahout.

Roxanne pretended not to notice his slight-of-cape moves. Her body was none too happy with her at the moment either. She noticed the hint of disappointment in the otherworldly eyes she adored so and consoled him, resting her forehead against his and cupping his cheek in her hand. "Aww, don't pout sweetie ... I just need to take a breather ... you have the power to cloud my mind ... but I like it." She smiled when she saw that gleam return to his eyes and closed hers, his scent filling her nostrils relaxing her and exciting her all at once.

Blue eyelids slid closed and insecurities began to brew. All his life he'd been made acutely aware of his differences and how they cut him off from any hope of fitting in with others. He was determined not to let those differences ruin this for him. He did some hard thinking about what her company meant to him, and what he'd be willing to sacrifice to keep it. "Roxanne ..." he breathed, opening his eyes to see hers trained on him, "I want you to understand that I ... don't want to pressure you. I love you ... no matter what. You can have all the time you want ... and, I don't even care if you never feel comfortable enough to do the things with me that you've done with other men ... human m-." His last word was blocked by a finger pressing his lips shut.

Roxanne's eyes had widened during his rambling speech, but she was prepared to hear him out 'til the word 'human' dripped from his lips in a tone that told her how painful it was for him to admit how isolated he had always, and still, felt. He was being more open with her than anyone ever had been, and it touched her that he was allowing his feelings to be laid bare. "Megamind ... I don't care what nonsense Wayne or anyone else put in your head, but I read those medical records of yours cover to cover. You are scientifically classified as humanoid. That makes you human. You're not Terrestrial, but that just makes you a different race. Last time I checked, we were supposed to have grown beyond that sort of prejudice on this planet." She searched his eyes with hers and made sure she held his gaze ... it was time to share something that made her feel very awkward. "And by the way, if you could feel the way my body is aching for yours right now, you would know I want to do things with you ... things I've never done with anyone." She peered at him harder to drive home the point.

His expressive face had been frozen in a mask of uncertainty but this new input changed everything. Relief washed over his features, but he raised a quizzical brow. "You? Really?" He thrilled at the blush glowing in her cheeks as she nodded. He smiled gently at her and spoke in a rough whisper. "I'd have thought every man in Metrocity would be lined up around the block for a chance to be with you."

The blush conquered more of her face as she shrugged with a lopsided smirk. "Well, I made out with a couple of guys in junior high, but nothing as hot and heavy as we just did. Most guys were intimidated by smart girls, and I wasn't willing to pretend to be a brainless bimbo to get guys' attention."

Megamind looked surprised and indignant. "Why would they want you to deny your intellect?" he asked then continued in a soft genuine tone, "Your mind is the most exciting thing about you! I'm glad you never hid your light under a bushel from me, Roxanne."

She smiled sweetly at him and skimmed her fingernails over his head and down his neck, sending shivers through him. "I knew you could appreciate it." As she continued her blue eyes cast downward. "Back then, the few guys that could get past it didn't stick around when they realized I wasn't going to just jump into the sack with them."

"Fools." Megamind growled in declaration.

Roxanne smiled gratefully at him. "And once I had two intimidating aliens fighting over me, I became invisible. No one was willing to risk Wayne's wrath, or yours. I heard one guy at a station Christmas party mutter something about not wanting to be dehydrated for the new year as he turned on his heel and walked away." She was actually amused by it, he noted.

"Fools and cowards!" he bit off. "You know none of those men were good enough for you, anyway, Roxanne." He conjured up a roguish smile and caressed her face as if it were a delicate flower.

She nuzzled her face into his hand. "You are." It wasn't a question.

He beamed at her. "Then you really aren't bothered by my looks?"

"Bothered?" She gaped at him. "Sweetheart, I ..." she sighed and suddenly had a light bulb blink on. "Megamind ... obviously you won't believe that I find you physically attractive until I let my baser instincts come forward and tell you in no uncertain terms." She grinned and poked a finger gently into his chest. "Get ready to be objectified, Sugar Lips."

The alien was sure the corners of his mouth must be meeting behind his head somewhere. This was just too delicious. He was about to be sexually harassed by Roxanne Ritchi. He clamped his teeth over his lower lip to curb the giggles.

Roxanne now wore a wolfish grin and leered at him openly. "Mnnf ... where to begin? For one thing, you have the most amazing eyes. They were the first thing about you that I caught myself admiring. They're all these shades of green layered together, like some lush primeval forest." Those eyes sparkled like emeralds at her praise. "And a quiver full of sweet 'n' sexy smiles, every one an arrow right to my heart." As she spoke, an index finger traced his lips, forcing a tiny snicker from his throat.

"I love these wickedly expressive eyebrows ..." she continued, "... and I've always thought your goatee is Hella sexy." she purred lustily, moving the finger that had traced his lip seconds before to pet the strip of hair as one might a wooly caterpillar. Then she leaned forward and brushed her lips against it, humming in appreciation of the feeling. "I love the way it tickles."

Megamind wondered how he could feel like he was turning to jelly when at least one part of him was solid as a rock.

Roxanne next began to tease her finger along one ear, eliciting a low moan from its owner. "I've always been fascinated by your ears. This subtle little point, and the way they're tinged with that pretty fuchsia that tints your cheeks when you blush. Yeah, just like that." She smirked as his face flushed as if on cue. "It compliments your skin so well ... which, by the way, is my favorite shade of blue." She tipped her head in contemplation. "It kind of reminds me of those roses that are mostly one color but the petals are tipped with another." She rolled her eyes. "I know, no guy wants to be told he's pretty like a flower ... "

Megamind's eyes sparkled mischievously and he pasted on a sweet smile. "You can call me 'Flower' ... if you want to." he said shyly, then giggled at his own silliness.

Roxanne's eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. "You've seen 'Bambi'?" she asked incredulously.

"Of course!" he said as if it were a ridiculous question, "Walt Disney was a creative genius, and his works were readily available in the prison library. In fact, that's about all they wanted to let me see when I was a kid." He stopped short of telling her how he owned the whole Disney film catalog on VHS and DVD ... she'd find out eventually. But there'd be no blaming it on Minion now.

"Mmm ... well, you've certainly got me 'Twitterpated'," sighed the newswoman. Then recalling what she was in the midst of doing she returned to treating him like a piece of meat to be graded. "Of course, I can't overlook the big head. It reminds me what a magnificent brain you have ... and the thoughts of what creative lovemaking that unique mind can come up with are very enticing." Her nails scratched lightly over the top of his head and he shuddered. "Your skin is so soft," she breathed out pensively as she enjoyed the feel of sliding the pads of her fingers over his cranial covering. They slipped down his neck and played around his collar, and her smirk began to resemble that of the Grinch. "I can't help but wonder if the rest of it is that soft."

Evil Heaven above, she is good at unraveling my mind. "You hereby have permanent permission to find out any time you like," he told her sweetly.

"Oh, good ... but for tonight, I'll leave you dressed," she allowed, "... since it is cold. But, that doesn't mean I can't touch you anyway, to feel this ..." Her hands roamed over his physique, squeezing the muscles occasionally as though she were shopping for ripe fruit. "... sweet defined musculature." Now Roxanne got as bold as she was going to on this date, and dropped one hand below his belt and filled it with gluteus maximus. "Which gets even sweeter down south. It doesn't happen often 'cause the cape is always in the way, but when I get a chance I shamelessly ogle your cute little tight butt." She had to admit, she really didn't realize Megamind's eyes were that big.

With a guttural chuckle and an ee-ville glint in his eye, the space traveler informed his Earth girl, "You just set a precedent, my love." Quick as a wink the blue hands were molding to the ample curves of her rear, fingertips grazing the crease marking the juncture with her thigh. "Oh, my hands have been wanting to do this all night," he cooed happily.

Roxanne made a show of acting shocked for about two seconds, then smiled and agreed, "I guess that's only fair."

The two found themselves nose to nose before long, their eye contact communicating that they both were still vexed by the struggle with their urges. But both knew tonight would not be the night. Regardless, their lips found each other again and enjoyed a leisurely wrestling match. Some minutes later they parted in favor of increased air flow to their hungry lungs, resting their foreheads together and resuming the staring contest.

Megamind made a frustrated growl in the back of his throat and tried to tamp down the incessant nagging of his flesh. "It's so odd ... how I feel like two people when I'm with you. One a perfect gentleman who wants nothing more than to hold you and gaze in your eyes, take in your scent. The other ... a beast with dark designs. Why is that?" He seemed truly confounded by the phenomenon.

Roxanne smiled and stroked his face. "I know exactly what you mean. It feels like being Jekyll and Hyde. It's one of the conundrums of being human. We have a primitive brain that rewards us for pursuing pleasure and a higher, more emotional brain layer that wants something more civilized than rutting like animals. A deeper spiritual connection, I guess. They seem to cancel each other out, leaving us at a stalemate." She sighed and dropped her eyes slightly, focusing on his goatee. "I know it doesn't make any sense for me to say I want you, but not yet ... but,"

She needn't have been concerned with seeming flighty. Her beau curtailed her nervous rambling with a shake of his head. "No, Roxanne, it makes perfect sense, now that I know we're in the same boat ... the S. S. Virgin. When I first met you in high school, I must have been mooning over you a lot, because one of my uncles sat me down for a talk about things of a sexual nature. He told me that males are usually chomping at the bit to lose their innocence, but sex is a different matter for women. By nature it's more invasive for them, so they want to trust who they open themselves up to that way. The first time especially, because she doesn't know what exactly to expect, and probably ... underestimates what her body is capable of taking. Apparently, unless she's relaxed and aroused, it would be a tight and possibly painful fit. But the unknown factor lends itself to nervousness, totally counterproductive. So he told me that if whoever was making me walk around daydreaming with that stupid grin on my face really meant something to me, I would have to have infinite patience with her and resign myself to the fact that she should be in charge of the when." He looked in her eyes seriously and said, "I officially cede that decision to you. I'm allowed to cajole, entice, seduce and otherwise attempt to convince you to make that decision quicker, but you still hold the reins. Give them slack and I'll run with it, but hitch them up tight and I'll whoa. Sound like a plan?"

The azure eyes he was so inspired by shone with love through his speech, relieved he grasped the issue so precisely. "Yes, I think we can work with that." She kissed him softly and sighed, "How did I get so lucky?"

Reiterating his assertion to Tony, he insisted, "I'm the lucky one here." His eyes brightened as a memory struck him. "I just remembered another song I should sing to you." He smiled at her eager expression and puffed his chest up with the breath drawn in to vocalize.

"I am the man who will fight for your honor, I'll be the hero you been dreamin' of.
we'll live forever, knowin' together that we did it all for the glory of love.
Just like a knight in shining armor from a long time ago,
just in time I will save the day, take you to my castle far away."

Roxanne had recognized the tune from Karate Kid 2 by the fourth word. She'd always loved it, but even more so now. She snuggled in closer and wrapped her arms about him, settling her head against his shoulder. "That was so romantic and sweet." A happy hum vibrated her vocal chords and she glanced at the fire, smaller now, soon would be little more than dying embers. "Let's pack up the rest of the picnic and head back to your castle," she suggested. "It'll be warmer."

YES it IS too soon to suggest alternate methods of keeping warm! His brain demanded the body's silence for the night and set about doing as his lady proposed. Stop grousing. One day you'll thank me.

Stopping to regard her partner fondly the brunette asked, "Are you sure you don't mind waiting?" Worry crossed her face for a second ... swiftly doused with a warm reassuring smile from him.

"I look at it this way; a goddess has asked me to walk with her through the garden of Earthly delights ... I'm not about to quibble about how fast or slow we walk, or what path we take, I'm simply going to follow along and enjoy the view." His soulful eyes taking her in let her know she was all the view he needed, garden be damned.

Roxanne felt a goofy smile light her face and she wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered, "Oh, you are so making points, Megamind."

He wrapped her in his arms and shrugged lightly. "Points, schmoints ... I've already won."