A/N: Martha's Vineyard #2. Mistakes are mine, as are Ben and Heather.
##
"Ed," Olivia whispered, nudging him to wake him up. He stirred, but then settled immediately and she smiled. "Ed, wake up," she whispered again, louder.
Still nothing.
She lowered the sheet from his bare chest and started ghosting kisses along his skin, keeping her eyes trained to his face as she did. She lightly bit at the skin of one of his pecs, and finally, his eyes flickered open.
"Hmm, this is a nice way to wake up," he murmured, brushing her hair out of her face. "Good morning," he kissed her.
"Good morning." She smiled. "Go for a run with me?"
Immediately, he groaned. "If a workout is what you're after, I can give you one right here," he said suggestively, grinning as he pulled her on top of him.
She laughed at his attempt at seduction, despite the sleepiness still etched in his face. "Come on," she prodded him. "I want to go for a run along the beach." She leaned down and kissed him. "And I want you to come with me."
"Why?" He whined.
"Because no one else is awake. It'll be like we have the whole island to ourselves," she kissed him again. "Please?"
He looked at her. "Damn you and your pouting," he sighed in defeat. "Fine. Just a short one, though," he reasoned.
She beamed. "That's all I'm asking." She leaned down and kissed him, sucking on his bottom lip as she pulled away. "Thank you."
He grumbled at her playfully, but got up with her and minutes later, after grabbing a pre-run banana snack, they walked out of the house and down the steps side by side.
Ed let her set the pace she was most comfortable with and trudged along easily beside her. They ran in silence; the only sounds between them were the gentle puffs of their breathing. They moved as if they were one body, each innately knowing when one person wanted to turn left, right or stay the course going straight.
As they approached the easternmost tip of the public beach, Olivia looked over to him, a wicked glint in her eye, "Hey old man," she huffed. "Race you to the beach?"
Without giving him a chance to respond, she tore off ahead of him at a sprint. Her running shoes hit the sand before his, and she nearly fell over when he tackled her from behind only seconds later. She squealed and he wrapped his arms around her waist, steadying them both before they fell.
He reached down for her hands, interlacing his fingers with hers as they came to face each other again.
"Never would have figured you for a cheater," he admonished playfully.
She shrugged, taunting him with a wink. "It's not my fault your reflexes aren't as sharp as they used to be."
"Smartass," he grumbled, shaking his head.
She smiled at him teasingly, "You have only yourself to blame. You've rubbed off on me." He looked like he wanted to make a joke, but she glared at him and he quickly changed course.
"Don't give me credit for that," he said, pulling her closer. "You've been a smartass as long as I've known you." He kissed her lips softly. "It's just cuter now than it used to be," he smirked. Ed looked out onto the horizon. The sun was on its way up, burning through a light fog that had settled over the island in the early morning hours. He squeezed her hand. "Want to sit for a while?"
She nodded, smiling triumphantly. It had practically taken an act of God to get him out of bed for this. Now he wanted to stay. "Sure."
Ed plopped onto the sand, reaching his hands out and pulling her down in front of him so that her back was to his chest and his arms wrapped around her waist. She settled one hand over his that were clasped together on her stomach, her other hand rested on his knee. She settled against him with a contented sigh.
"This is nice," she murmured.
"Mhmm," he squeezed her midsection a little tighter. "So, where are you taking me on our private vacation?"
She chucked. "I don't know." Turning to look at him, she asked. "Any special requests?"
He shrugged. "Nah. Anywhere with you is good."
Her eyebrow lifted. "Anywhere? That's dangerous."
"I'll take the risk," he assured her with a sardonic smile.
She said nothing, only smiled at him and turned her attention toward the water. She had nestled into him, and when she turned her head to watch an older gentleman walking his dog along the shoreline, the sun caught her eyes just right and made them look more like a warm caramel than the shade of brown they usually were. He stared unabashedly for several moments before her voice brought him back.
"Stop looking at me like that," she ordered.
Innocently, he asked, "Like what?"
"Like you just want to devour me," she explained with a gentle nudge of his ribs with her elbow.
He simpered. "Well…"
She turned back to look at him, an amused expression on her face, and leaned in for a short kiss. "Thank you for coming out here with me," she murmured sweetly. He didn't respond, just leaned in for another kiss before she pushed off of him and stood, offering her hand to him to help him up once she was on her feet. "Let's go."
She intertwined the fingers of her right hand with his left as they walked leisurely back to the house. A few more people were out and about, older couples taking walks through the park, a few carrying to-go coffee cups from one of the local joints on the main road. Nearly everyone they saw waved and said hello as they passed.
Walking into the house, they heard the distant voices of the boys and Ben originating from the kitchen. She trudged up the stairs, Ed behind her, keen on making herself more presentable before they joined everyone downstairs. "I'm jumping in the shower," she told him.
Nodding, Ed closed the bedroom door behind them and plopped onto the edge of the bed with a tired but contented sigh, laying flat on his back with his legs dangling over the edge of the mattress. Olivia turned on the water in the shower, ridding herself of her sweaty shirt before standing in the threshold between the bedroom and bathroom in her sports bra and shorts. Her gaze was on him, drifting from his head to his toes.
She knew, once they left this room, they likely wouldn't have time alone until tonight, and even then they'd have to get up early for the ferry in the morning. She smiled mischievously. "You joining me?"
He lifted himself so he was propped up on his elbows and stared at her with a raised eyebrow and a smirk. Without a word, he stood up and tore his shirt over his head and tossed it across the room as he stalked toward her.
As he approached, she backed herself into the bathroom, grinning at the predatory look in his eyes and she knew she had him. Hook. Line. Sinker.
He crouched down, putting a hand behind each of her thighs and lifting her, muffling her surprised yelp by covering her lips with his as her arms wrapped around his neck. He started walking them into the shower, and Olivia stopped him by squeezing his hips between her thighs. She broke their kiss looking pointedly down at the articles of clothing they were both still wearing.
She teased, "Not that I don't appreciate - and completely understand - your enthusiasm…but can we at least get undressed first?"
##
An hour later, they descended the stairs and made their way into the kitchen, freshly cleaned and satisfied.
"And where were you guys?" Heather asked.
"We went for a run," Olivia replied casually, sneaking a flirtatious glance at Ed. "Sat on the beach for a few minutes to cool down." Only to heat back up once they got home… She poured a glass of orange juice and walked over to Noah, who was sitting in a booster seat at the table. "Good morning, my love."
"Morny, mommy."
Olivia looked to Heather, "Sorry about leaving you hanging with Noah. I thought we'd be back before he got up," she apologized.
Heather waved her off, "Please." She looked at Noah lovingly, "He's the easy one."
Ed walked to the table, toasted bagel and schmear on plate in his hand. He ruffled Noah's hair and sat in the chair next to him.
"No good morning for me, bud?"
Noah smiled shyly. "Morny, daddy."
Ed kissed the top of his head and smiled. "That's better." He caught Olivia's gaze and winked at her. She sat in the chair next to him and leaned into his side, laying her hand on his thigh.
"Good morning, newcomers," Ben called, emerging from outside. He moved around the kitchen, pouring himself a drink and toasting a bagel. "What's on the agenda today?"
The adults looked at each other, shrugging noncommittally. They'd seen all the major attractions that they wanted to. There was nothing pressing to hit on this, the last day on the island.
"We can just hang out…" Ed suggested.
Heather perked up. "Would you guys mind terribly if we split into girls and guys for a few hours?"
Ben and Ed looked at each other and shrugged. "Not at all."
Heather beamed, pointing her index finger at Olivia. "You and me. Mani-Pedi. It's not a real vacation without one."
"I missed that in the travel guide," Olivia joked, shooting a wry glance at Ed who chuckled silently. "But that sounds good."
##
The boys were getting antsy, so Ben and Ed took them for a walk around Oak Bluffs before boarding a shuttle over to Vineyard Haven, where there were a lot more stores and things geared toward the family crowd.
They were walking down streets lined with old, but beautifully maintained craftsman-style houses and boutique hotels, souvenir shops and sweet shops offering homemade fudge.
Ben was getting a couple of cones for the boys at a mobile creamery when Ed meandered in front of a vintage jewelry store.
Ed's attention inexplicably was drawn to a certain display, and his eyes combed over the different styles. Round cut, cushioned cut, emerald cut, pear-shaped. Some were set into gold bands, others white gold, still others platinum.
No two rings were the same, and it was entirely possible that none of these rings had a twin anywhere else in the world, either. Signage in the window indicated that they were mostly acquired in estate sales and auctions from the Martha's Vineyard elite - old Hollywood royalty, politicians, etc.
Ed watched Ben walk up in the reflection on the store window. Ben looked from the rings to Ed then back again. It seemed to Ben like a deeply personal thing to be observing: Ed looking at rings. But something in the older man's stance, his gaze, seemed to suggest that even he wasn't even sure how he came to be standing here at this storefront.
"Thinking about getting one?" he asked casually, turning and leaning on the glass so he could watch the boys on the bench a few feet away.
Ed stood, hands in his pockets, and nodded, glancing at Ben with a small smile. "Thinking about it."
Ben nodded, and they were silent for a moment. "Does she know?"
He shook his head. How could she? Ed himself didn't even know he was going to be doing this until about two seconds before Ben asked him about it.
He and Olivia hadn't talked about marriage explicitly yet; buying a ring wasn't something he'd planned on doing today, tomorrow or even a month down the road. And yet, here he was.
It felt right.
Ben considered him, and then asked. "Do you know when you're gonna do it?"
"No idea," Ed chuckled.
They were still in the silence. Ben watching the boys; Ed watching the rings.
"Do you see any one in particular that you think she'll like?"
He did. There were dozens of rings before him, but his eyes kept gravitating toward a specific one.
It was white gold with a single round-cut diamond on it. On either side of the stone were details that resembled the hands of the Claddagh, with scrolls that carried the whole way around the band, tiny stones embedded within. Each side of the band was adorned with intricate swirls and the inside. It was beautiful - not too simple, but not too elaborately detailed, either.
He liked the symbolism of the Claddagh, too, and this ring resembled that image without being tacky or gaudy like a lot of Claddagh rings he'd seen.
He pointed it out to Ben, who turned to look at it and nodded appreciatively. "Nice! Do you want me to take Noah and keep walking so you can finish this, or do you want to keep him here with you?"
Ed considered this. "What are the chances of a three-year-old being able to keep buying a piece of jewelry for his mother, from his mother?" He wasn't being sarcastic - he hadn't been around many three-year-olds before Noah and he'd never needed him to keep a secret before; he wasn't sure.
Ben winced, shaking his head slightly and rocking back on his feet as he looked at Noah. "You never can tell, man." He chuckled. "Jax remembers the things I want him to forget, and he forgets the things I want him to remember."
Ed smiled and nodded, returning his attention to the ring. "You know what, you take Noah and go ahead. I'll catch up." Ben nodded. "I want to talk to him about this man-to-man before I ask her, but I'm not asking her this weekend." Ed paused, chuckling. "I'm not good at this stuff. I'm way out of my league here, but something is telling me not to walk away from this ring."
Ben smiled. "That's how you know it's right." He turned, looking at the ring again. "It's a beautiful ring, Ed. But honestly… She's going to love any ring you give her because it comes from you." His lips lift in a wry grin, "And if you tell either of the girls I was such a sap, I'll deny it," he warned.
Ed chuckled. "Back at you." Shrugging, he added, "Although I think my reputation as a hard-ass was pretty much shot to hell the second she agreed to have a drink with me."
"I could see that…" Ben chuckled, but then grew serious, looking out onto the street as he spoke. "Look, can I say something, married guy to maybe-soon-to-be-married-guy?" He glanced at Ed, who had now turned his full attention to him. They weren't close; not like Heather and Olivia, but they had a bond.
"'Course."
Ben sighed. "I don't know details, but I do know she's been through a lot." Ed tensed, and his eyes darkened a shade for a split second before Ben continued. "I haven't known either of you long, but it doesn't take five minutes with you both to see how happy you make each other." Ben shrugged. "She seems like the kind of girl that isn't going to take any shit – especially not if it threatens her son. I'm sure, if she's still with you, you're a lot better at this stuff than you think you are," he chuckled, and gave Ed a reassuring pat on the back. "Don't stress over it. Just keep making her happy."
Ed turned his gaze back to the ring. "That's the plan."
"Good," Ben nodded and rubbed his hands together. "I think I might need a beer later after all this mushy talk."
"You and me both," Ed agreed. "Hey, Ben?" He looked at the younger man. "Thanks."
"Yeah, no problem."
"And don't tell Heather. About," he gestured at the ring, "y'know," Ed reminded.
Ben scoffed. "Are you kidding? I learned that lesson long ago, my friend. Jackson may be iffy on keeping secrets, but he's always been better at it than she is…" Ben headed toward the boys. "We'll catch you in a bit."
"If he asks where I am…" Ed started, looking at Noah.
Ben waved him off, "I'll come up with something."
"Thanks, I'll catch up."
Ed stared at the ring for a moment longer before taking a deep breath and pulling the door open.
An older woman behind the counter smiled at him knowingly. "Afternoon," she greeted. "See something ya like?"
Nodding, he pointed at the ring in the display case. "I'll take that one."
##
Freshly primped and with to-go coffee cups in hand, Heather and Olivia walked down Water Street in Edgartown. They were mostly window-shopping, but every once in a while they'd duck into a store and look around.
Olivia thumbed the price tag on a blouse in one boutique and her eyes widened. In a harsh whisper, she said to Heather, "This thing costs more than I spend on rent!"
In Manhattan, that was saying something.
Heather chuckled. "I'd walk a good perimeter around it," she pointed to Olivia's coffee cup. "I'm willing to bet there's a you-break-you-buy policy in a place like this."
"I think I'd rather just walk around in a store I can afford," Olivia retorted, checking out another price tag and shaking her head in disgust.
"Not too many of those in this town," Heather said wistfully. "We don't have to buy anything. I just need ideas for new merch."
They wandered, leaving that store and walking into another, casually talking about the trip so far, the boys, upcoming events going on back home, etc.
In the middle of rifling through a rack of peasant blouses, Heather glanced back at Olivia and pursed her lips, asking her, "So, shower sex, huh?"
She said it as casually as if she was asking about the weather or what Olivia wanted for lunch.
Olivia's head sprang up from what she was looking at. "What about it?" Heather narrowed her eyes and cocked her head to the side. "You heard that?" she breathed.
Heather laughed. "Oh honey," patting Olivia's arm, "it didn't sound like you were even trying to be quiet." Olivia's eyes slipped shut. Enjoying Olivia's reaction, Heather continued, "Ed sounds...skilled."
Olivia groaned, hanging her head, heat rushing to her face. "Oh, God."
Heather nodded. "Yep, heard that a few times, too," she ribbed. She looked at the pink hue that was coloring Olivia's cheeks and neck. "I swear…few things satisfy me more than making you blush."
Olivia was mortified, but couldn't help the laugh that escaped. "Please stop talking," she tried to cover Heather's mouth with her hand, but the younger woman moved away. "I can't believe you heard us."
Heather smirked and continued walking. "And here I was worried that this family vacation was cutting into your couple-time." She nudged Olivia with her elbow, her eyes gleaming.
Resigned, Olivia smiled, shaking her head. "No, we've managed just fine..."
Heather scoffed, "I'll say." Olivia slapped her arm and she winked, exiting the store and continuing beside her friend on the street.
##
A/N: Sorry if the ending is abrupt here – I had almost 7000 words for this update and decided to split it up into two chapters, so you'll get the resolution to their vacation soon. It's already done :) Show of hands: who loves Ben after this one?