Author's notes: At the Sloop Inn. Before they head home they need something to eat. And have a pint. Barbara and Judith are in an exuberant mood.


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Thomas looked up when he heard the two women laughingly entering the pub. He wondered what Barbara might have bought. He could not detect any differences - she wore the same functional boots, she wore the same jeans.

...which had become a little bit more formfitting recently than it had been in former days. Thomas smilingly thought of her well shaped bum.

She wore the same old parka that she loved so well and the hair was not cut.

Not really, but there's something different with her hair... Thomas mused. And probably she wears something new that I can't see. He cleared his throat.

He stood when they arrived his table. He had been waiting for the length of a pint and seemingly it was a good decision to start to catch up their extermination of the St. Ives Prosecco stock. They weren't drunk but slightly tipsy.

"There you are, my lovely ones. Any Prosecco left?" he welcomed them joyfully.

"Hi!" Barbara beamed at him. While Judith already put their bags under the table and took a seat Barbara came close to Thomas. With all that "girl's stuff" in her mind she suddenly felt slightly embarrassed about kissing in a well-lit public place like this and blushed. Thomas took her hand. He just smiled down to her and luxuriated in that sizzling moment for a little while. For a little while too long for his sister's liking.

"Go kiss her Tommy, I'm thirsty!" she muttered.

Thomas turned to Judith and cursed her. "You little pest, can't you shut up and pretend to be not present sometimes?"

When he turned back to Barbara she already had taken the seat next to him.

"Phew! Errm...?!" Thomas raked his fingers through his hair and looked down to her with irritation, now suddenly just standing around unnecessary.

"A pint, yes, thank you." Judith said and smiled innocently.

Barbara nodded in agreement.

Headshaking Thomas left and came back with three pints of Ruby Red Ale*.


When he sat down Barbara put a hand on his thigh and smiled.

"Umm, what about that kiss, Thomas?" she whispered.

"I thought I'd keep you waiting." he teasingly whispered back. Get your hands off my leg, Barbara, or I'll carry you home right now.

They came closer and finally kissed, very gentle and caressing. And lasting. And becoming more intense.

Now Judith hid herself behind the menu card and actually pretended to be not present.

When they came up for air Barbara giggled girlishly.

"I've missed that, Thomas."

"Oh, holy! Guess what..." he answered desperately.

"Finished, you two?" Judith grinned.

"Not at all!" Thomas answered. "But that has to wait." Barbara blushed again.

"I've made a reservation for The Captains Table, the restaurant upstairs, for 7 pm, so you have some time to show me your prey, ladies."

He looked curiously at the bags under the table.

"No, not my prey." Judith said. "I've bought some stuff you will never get to see, my brother." she winked. "But you can ask Barbara."

"No, I won't unpack my stuff in the pub either." Barbara repelled.

Thomas grinned. "Well, that makes me curious."

"You naughty one." Barbara playfully pinched his side. "It's just impractical and I don't want to have beer stains on my new pyjamas."

Judith choked on her ale. After they exchanged a telling look Barbara joined in her giggling.

"It seems to me that you both had one or another glass of Prosecco." Thomas wondered amused.

"Ah, well, but I can show you what I've bought for you, Tommy." Judith took a little package out of one of the bags and handed it over to him.

Thomas unpacked some boxers with funny Woodstock** printings and looked questioningly at his sister.

"So you have something matching for Barbara's Snoopy** pyjamas." Judith laughed.

Barbara snorted equally laughing. "I didn't recognize when you bought this, Judith, you're killing me."

Thomas lowered the boxers and shook his head.

"I'm so glad I'm with grown-ups." he said ironically to the ancient lady looking grimly down from the old photograph on the wall.


At 7 pm they were lead to their table. While he had been waiting for Barbara and his sister Thomas had arranged what had to be served and they wasted no time with the menu cards. Chatting and eating they spent a nice evening.

Barbara told of Pan-Yong and Ramon, those two butterflies, like she still called them, and - when Judith was away for a while - she also talked about Tamy and her shop but without really going into detail.

"I know her shop." Thomas blinked. "That's where Judith bought that sisterly lovely gift for me. What have you bought there?" he grinned, trying to keep his face innocently looking.

"Pyjamas." Barbara answered. "I've told you."

"Anything else?" Now Thomas' grin was smugly when he took her hand. "A little nothing I only get to see in our bedroom?"

"Thomas!" Barbara scolded him and blushed. Drowning in the deep look from his dark eyes she started to tell. "Well, umm, ..."

Now Judith came into sight so Thomas just whispered huskily "Not now, but I can hardly wait!" and kissed Barbara's fingers.


At some point Thomas told Judith about some of the estet work and especially of the horse trades. He mentioned the plan to buy another mare like Variety Lights, their mother's mare, and Judith immediately knew what it was for. When Barbara excused herself to the Ladies she jumped at the chance.

"You're choosing that horse for Barbara, aren't you." she said.

Thomas nodded. "Yes. I'd love to share the passion of horse-riding with her."

Judith looked him straight in the eye and asked "Are you going to bring her home, Tommy?"

Thomas swallowed. He knew what Judith meant.

"I've planned on doing so, yes." he smiled lopsidedly as if Judith had catched him doing something stupid. Judith beamed in delight.

"I give you my blessings, be sure. Would be no easy task, you know this. But, Tommy," she squeezed his hand. "please! take your time and give her some time. Don't go head over heels like you always use to when you've set your mind on something. You both still have to arrange yourself with the other a lot. Don't scare her and let her end it before it had even started. You can't just..."

"Judith!" Thomas stopped her. "Don't you believe that I don't have all this already in my head? I've come to know Barbara a little over all those years. I won't scare her out of our relationship. Even if time is not on our side." he sighed. But then he chuckled. "Oh, I've recently also thought about keeping it modern."

"Oh, that would scare mother." Judith giggled.

"And think of Sir Ulysses!" Thomas winked, mentioning their most conservative uncle.

"Oh, shocking!" Then Judith went serious again. "Promise me that you keep this in mind and don't blurt it out in the heat of the moment, Tommy!"

"I promise."

"Oh, and it even is not appropriate to only wait until the second week of January." Judith giggled.

Then Barbara came back to the table.

Thomas squeezed Judith's hand and kissed it lightly. Judith nodded and changed the subject.

"You're a lucky one, Barbara. Tommy didn't know about our agreement and has already paid the drinks."

"Oh, what a pity." Barbara played mournful.

Laughingly they pitched into the cheese platter that now was beeing served.


On their way back to the cottage Thomas suggested either to carry their bags or to cuddle them close and keep them warm on his left and on his right side.

Judith and Barbara exchanged glances and simultaneously handed him the bags.

Giggling and arm in arm they went in lockstep ahead of Thomas. They recapitulated the day and had a lot to laugh about.

"I swear I saw pixie dust waving around Ramon."

"He must've picked it up at Panny."

They ridiculously giggled, totally ignoring the lateness of the hour, really making a racket.

Smiling amused but shaking his head in disbelief and obviously much more sober than the ladies Thomas followed, restrainig himself from peeking into the bags.


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*Ruby Red Ale from the St. Peter's Brewery - a mouthwatering imagination. It's 11am here and now and a coffee is all I allow myself. How bad. Umm, well, otherwise it's the traditional pub-opening-time, isn't it?! The Sloop Inn - one of Cornwall's oldest Inns (ca 1312) - I've been there. Nice pub on the ground-floor.

** Snoopy and Woodstock belong to Charles M. Schulz and Peanuts Worldwide LLC