A beautiful 5'3" woman walked down the basement stairs in a fuchsia one-piece swimsuit. She had light brown shoulder length hair, ivory skin, and piercing blue eyes. The woman was about 43, but didn't look a day over 20. Her eyes landed on handsome 5'7" man in a pair of red swimming trunks. The man had dark brown spiky hair. He was muscular and well built. His brown eyes shined like sparkly diamonds. "James Oliver, I've loved you for as long as I can remember," Jan smiled getting into the hot tub next to her husband. "You are the only spark I'll ever need."

"I feel the same way," James purred draping his arm around his wife. "I have the prefect girl in my life, we have a wonderful son, and we couldn't ask for him to have a better girlfriend."

"Mom, dad, where are you?" Tommy called out. "I've brought Kim home with me."

"We're down in the basement!" Jan answered. She watched her son and girlfriend walk down the stairs. "How was school?"

"We've survived our first day of in school detention," Kimberly answered. She noticed that Jan's eyes landed on the pink robe she was wearing. "I hope you don't mind that I am wearing your robe. I spilled my drink at lunch on my outfit and I've just taken a shower and put my clothes in the washer. I hope you don't mind."

"Of course not," Jan answered. "James and I got home from work and decided to soak in the hot tub. You both are welcome to join us-"

"-Mrs. Oliver, I'd love to, but I don't have a swimsuit," Kimberly replied as Tommy walked up the stairs to get changed.

Jan got out of the hot tub and opened the closet door. "Here you can wear this one," she said handing Kimberly the suit. "You can change down here. The bathroom is right across from the hot tub."

Tommy walked down the basement stairs in a pair of pink swimming trunks with white Hawaiian. He was used to wearing baggy swimming trunks. But, when he went to buy a new pair he saw those pair and he instantly wanted to buy them. Kimberly walked out of the bathroom wearing a dark piece one-piece suit with high cut legs and a very low-cut bodice. Hearts appeared in his eyes as he stood on the last step. "Tommy, how do I look?" Kimberly asked as she turned around modeling in her suit for him.

"Beautiful, cute, and se-" he caught himself as his parents looked at him and with Kimberly blushing. He couldn't believe he almost said she was sexy aloud. "I meant beautiful, cute, and attractive."

"You look cute and handsome," Kimberly blushed as he climbed in the huge hot tub after her. She found herself stretching out next to Tommy as he pulled his hair out of the tight ponytail. He draped his arm around her shoulder. The next thing she knew was that she was resting her head on his chest and her arms were tightly wrapped around his waist.

Kim sighed, wishing he would go shirtless a little more often. She liked it when they went to the beach because he rarely wore a shirt when he went swimming (although she hated his baggy swim trunks). She liked his chest. She imagined that it felt as smooth and hard as it couldn't remember seeing the suit before.

"It seems like your girlfriend loves you as much as I loved your mother when we were your age," James smiled watching the two of them blush. "You're so lucky to have a wonderful woman in your life-"

"-dad, we haven't taken our relationship to the next stage yet," Tommy said slowly stroking Kimberly's hair. "She's a lot like mom was when you were at the point we are now at. I told her how you ended up together. But, I didn't tell her what when you were on your own for a while. "

Jan looked up into James warm dark brown eyes. "Tommy, it's very important that you realize this. Not all people come from a good background," James cautioned draping his arm around his wife. "Several years ago, I learned what Jan's life was truly like."

"Your father found out what my parents and step parents were like and he took me away from all of that," Jan smiled resting his head on James chest. "It all started on the day of a cross country match."

May 1977

James Oliver sat at the back of the bus with Jan Brooks. For the last three hours, Jan had been sound asleep resting her head on James shoulder. They had Beach Valley High at 6:30 that morning. Jan was really worn out. She appeared as if she hadn't sleep the night before and appeared to hungry since she didn't get breakfast. James had an extra box of juice and an extra package of pop-tarts and he gave her the extra food that he had. She devoured the food quickly as if she hadn't had a meal for a long time. As soon as she ate her breakfast her head hit James' shoulder like a pillow and she was asleep before the bus took off.

"Okay everyone we're here," announced Coach Sutherland.

All the students got in a single file line and began to walk off the bus. James had to nudge Jan to wake her up. She slowly opened her eyes looking up into a pair of worried dark brown eyes. "Jan, you don't look good," James whispered helping her off the bus. "Maybe you shouldn't-"

"-NO, DON'T EVEN THINK IT!" she whispered back. "I HAVE TO COMPETE! YOU JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND-"

"-understand what?" James gasped taking her hand in his. "Jan, we've been best friends since first grade and we've been dating for three years. You can tell me-"

She turned her head away from him. "No, I can't!" she snapped jerking her hand out of his. "You don't know what it's like living with Rita and Ken Reynolds. They are-"

"-they are what? -"

"-oh, forget it James!" Jan hissed throwing her hands in the air. "I don't know why I even bothered-"

"-Janice Brooks, get over here!" shouted someone from the stands. Jan walked over to the stands and met her mother (Rita) and step-father (Ken). They were sitting at the bottom bleacher and looked very angry. "Your training is really paying off. Do you remember what we talked about?"

"Yes, Ken," she replied taking a seat on the bleacher. "I have to place in the competition and or I'm in trouble."

"You better remember that!" hissed Rita as spit came flying out of her mouth and landed in Jan's hair. "We've got a big sporting goods store and we've been using you working out in our advertisements'. It has gained us a lot of profit. And if you lose-"

"-more time working out, less sleep, only one meal, and a beating," Jan finished looking at her mother. Rita Reynolds was beautiful woman, but it was only on the outside and still outshone her daughter. She had golden locks of shoulder length hair, a nice prefect tan from going to the tanning bed regularly, her figure was prefect and she 5'7". Rita often made remarks about Jan was 5'3" and would never be tall enough to be good enough for any man. "And I won't be allowed to see James anymore. It isn't fair, he loves me, and I love him-"

"-Jan, if James really matters to you, you'll place," Rita warned.

Jan walked over to the starting line, unaware that James had overheard every word that was said to her. The referee blew the whistle and all the students took off running. Jan was one of the last students in the race. She was barely able to keep up and was out of breath. As she ran along the path Rita and Ken were watching her from the stands. Ken had brought a blow horn and had started to yell through it. "Is that the best you can do!" Ken shouted not caring who heard him or saw him yelling at Jan. "You are weak and pathetic! You're not even trying, Jan Brooks!"

She continued to run until she turned a corner near a hill side. Jan was out of breath and collapsed at the side of the trail. "GET UP!" Rita screamed through the blow horn standing on the very top bleach. "JAN, GET UP NOW! LOOSING ISN'T AN OPTION! WELL, IF YOU AREN'T GOING TO GET UP, YOU MIGHT AS WELL KISS THAT BOY GOOD BYE!"

Drops of rain began to fall on James Oliver's face. He looked up at the sky and saw the white puffy clouds were turning gray with the sky. James turned around and saw a figure laying at the edge of the hill. The figure was in a bright red and sliver track uniform. Realizing it was Jan he turned back and heads towards her knowing very well that it would cost him the race. A whistle blew when there was a loud clap of thunder. "Jan, wake up," James begged kneeling down and gathering her in his arms. He walked over to a coke machine and inserted a dollar and got her a bottle of water. James opened the water and gently opened Jan's mouth. He slowly poured the water in her mouth and started to drink it. Strikes of blue zigzags appeared in the sky and he saw everyone heading for safety. "We have to go to safety. A storm is taking place." Another clap of thunder took place and James broke out in a run and he slipped on wet grass. Both slid down the hill landing in the mud.

Jan's eyes opened when she felt the cold mud under her nails and in her hair. Her eyes shifted when she saw James was laying on top of her. "JAMES! What are you doing here!" she shouted pushing him off her. "I'm going to be in trouble with Rita and Ken. I'm filthy and covered in mud-"

"-Jan, I overheard what they said to you," he confessed sitting up in the mud. "I have suspected that things at home weren't going well ever since Ken came along. I already knew Rita ignored you to attention from her boyfriends-"

"-she was never fit to be a parent-"

"-Jan, don't you think I know that?" James questioned reaching into his pocket. "You can't go back to them if they are treating you like that. It won't be safe for you-"

"-I have to, I have nowhere else to go! As much as I hate to do this, I have to break up-"

"-Jan, you can come live with me," James whispered pulling her into a tight embrace. "You won't have to be tired, not be allowed to have a meal, or come to school with bruises anymore."

Jan rested her head on James shoulder as she lifted her into his arms. He carried her over to a hallow tree with an opening and they took shelter inside. "James, I don't want to lose you," Jan sobbed into his shoulder. "I love you and want to be with you. But, they'd hurt you and you'd be locked in a room with me. We wouldn't be allowed to leave and wouldn't see anyone else again. I don't want that kind of life for you-"

"-Jan, we both turned 18 last week," James reminded her stroking her muddy hair. "Once you say I do, you'll belong to me and I won't let them around you ever again."

Jan's blue eyes lit up when she heard the words "I do". "James, I love you and want to be with you. I'm scared of getting married," she confessed wiping her muddy hands on her outfit. "Both of my parents have been married many times. I don't want that to happen with us."

"Jan, you are nothing like your parents or step parents," he assured her. "We've always had a good relationship and we've been best friends since we were small children. Yes, we've had disagreements, but we've always worked them out. The only difference is that we will be living together, supporting each other, and making decisions together for our future."

"-James, you really want me?"

"Of course, precious," James purred opening box. Inside was an engagement ring and two wedding bands. "Will you make me the happiest man and marry me?"

Jan grabbed James face started kissing him as hard as she could. After several seconds, they broke apart for air. "Yes," she answered as her eyes filled up with tears and he slide the ring on her finger. "It must have taken you a fortune to buy these."

"You were worth it," he grinned pulling her into his arms. "I was already going to ask you anyway, since I was told the running track is close to wedding chapel. We can elope and have another wedding later. All I want to do now is get you away from Rita and Ken for good."

Several Hours Later

Jan and James waited for the storm to clear up and the walked with a short distance to the wedding chapel. Within less than an hour they were married. "How does it feel to be Mrs. Oliver?" James asked giving Jan a kiss, as they walked back towards the track.

"Wonderful," Jan smiled taking hold of James hand. "I can't wait to go home with you. I wish we could have worn better clothes instead of muddy clothes to get married in. How are we going to explain why our new outfits are covered in mud?"

"We passed a lake on the way here," James reminded her as they walked back into the forest. " We could go back there and wash our clothes we are waiting for our clothes to dry, we could bathe and go for a swim."

"They were having several matches today," Jan said as they walked to the lake. "Since we didn't advance, we won't be competing. It would give us time to think about how we are going explain about us eloping to my parents."

Jan and James looked around to make sure there wasn't anyone else nearby. After the coast was clear, James slipped out of his muddy track uniform and threw them in the lake. He stepped back and broke off in a run. He plunged down into the lake. "Jan, the water is great!" he approved as swam up to the surface. "Come in!"

"I can't," Jan replied watching James swim over to her. "I don't look good-"

"-Jan, you are beautiful," he started as she took a seat next to the edge of the lake. "You don't have nothing to be ashamed of-"

"-yes, I do," she snapped. Her jacket was zipped up as far as it would go. "You don't-"

"-Jan, you know I love you no matter what you look like. Please don't be afraid to talk to me."

She slowly removed her tracksuit and tee shirt and placed them into the water. James' eyes landed on the purple bruises that were on her shoulders and knees. "Just so you know, I have to train for Ken's commercials and adds for his business. Yesterday, I had to do boxing and I wasn't that good," she explained stepping into the warm water. "Then I had to train for the cross-country match."

James swam over to her and pulled her into a tight hug. "That part of your life is over," he assured her as stroking her hair. He couldn't help from staring at the gold wedding bands on their fingers and Jan's engagement ring. "You know have a new home and are coming home to people who love you every night."

After they got cleaned up and their outfits were dry, they rushed back to the track and the bus was leaving. Four people dressed in black coats, gloves, and masks, appeared from behind the bushes. "Jan look out!" James cried as a lasso was being thrown at her. Her rushed over to her throwing his arms around her. The lasso landed around both and it was pulled tight. "What do you all want with us?"

"I saw you married Janice Brooks," said an unfamiliar voice. The person quickly took them inside a U-Haul truck. They sat James and Jan down on the floor. It looked like Jan was sitting on James lap. "You thought you could take her away from us."

"She's officially married to me!" James shouted. "And she's staying with me."

Another person dressed in black walked over to them. "James Oliver, we knew that you were planning on marrying her. I saw you buy the engagement ring and the wedding rings," said the other person kneeling down in front of them. "I knew you hated me."

He pulled his mask off his face and it was Ken Reynolds. "KEN!" James gasped, and he could fill Jan shaking in his arms. "You aren't going to hurt her again! -"

Ken punched James in the eye and he let out a cry of pain. "-last night I put chip in her back pocket and I was able to use it to track you from the moment you slid down that hill. Tomorrow, we're taking you to my ware house for safe keeping."

The truck stopped, and Ken and the other person dressed in black got out and got climbed into the front of the truck and it started to move again. "James, I really-"

"-Jan, you have nothing to be sorry for," he whispered giving her a kiss on the head. "We have to escape-"

"-how, we can't even move? -"

"-there's a pair of broken scissors next to us. They fell out of Ken's pocket," he informed looking down at the pair of scissors lying next to Jan. "I bet you can reach them, they are lying next to you. Once you have them, slowly cut the ropes."

Even though her hands were at her sides, Jan was able to reach them and slowly cut through the ropes. The back of the truck wasn't locked well, and the doors swung open. They were passing two grizzly bears in a big fight. "Jan, that's prefect!" James gasped, and he slowly began to strip down. "We can use the grizzly bears to our advantage-"

"-James, what are you thinking?"

"Jan, you have the tracking device in your pocket-"

"-the zippers on my pockets are stuck and I can't get them to unzip-"

"-we don't want them to find us and we want to throw them off trail. If we throw our tracksuits out where grizzly bear fight is, they will shred them. That will give us a chance to escape," James explained as they were getting closer to where the grizzly bears were fighting. "We'll jump out after we pass the grizzly bears and find a place to hide-"

"James, has it dawned on you that we will be fighting for survival?" Jan asked as she started to get undressed. "What will we do then? We won't have survival items."

"We can build camp fires, sleep in caves, drink water from springs, and we can eat berries and fruit from trees," he promised her to take hold of her hand. He picked up their tracksuits and threw them at the grizzly bears. They watched as the grizzly bears shredded them during their fight. James' eyes wondered until they landed on a stream close to a water fall. "Jan, we can jump now!"

As the truck turned they jumped and tumbled down the hill into stream. "Are you okay?" Jan cried as she slowly got up and watched the truck stop. "I think we've been spotted!"

James quickly grabbed Jan hand and they began to run towards the waterfall. As they got closer to the waterfall it got louder and louder and it blocked out all the other sounds around them. It was useless to try to shout to each other. They jumped into the waterfall and landed inside a cave. Torches were on the wall and it was well lit up. Jan and James walked around the cave and found some clothes worn by cave men. James quickly put the lion cloth on and handed Jan the jungle bra and lion cloth. "I look so awful," Jan sighed staring at her reflection in a pool of water. "Just admit it, James!"

He walked over to Jan wrapping his arms around her. "You're still beautiful," he assured her as he picked up two animals skin blankets. "And I love you more than you'll ever know."

He spread the one of the blankets out on the cold stone floor and used the other one to cover them both up. "I love you too, James," Jan yawned resting her head on James' chest. "Good night."

"Mrs. Oliver, I had no idea all of that happened!" Kimberly gasped. She turned to face Tommy. "How did you both survive?"

"The following morning, we walked through the cave and came out at a beach," James explained. "We saw an island that was a short distance and swam to it-"

"-it was beautiful, it had fruit trees, a small cave with a hot spring inside, and we always walked up a trail to the top of the hill to watch the sun set," James continued nuzzling James effectively. "We were stuck on that island for two months because Sharks were mating, and we couldn't leave the island-"

"-how did you get off that island!" Kimberly cried squeezing Tommy's hand.

"A rescue boat was traveling by and they spotted us and took us back to Miami," James answered stroking Jan's hair. "It turned out that people who caught us were wanted because they were taking money out of the sporting good store's budget to build a new training facility of some sort."