Andrew drove his carriage into town to pick Colleen up at the clinic. He had packed up a picnic lunch and was excited to finally take Colleen out again. She had been back in Colorado Springs for almost a week but they hadn't had much time together with Andrew being busy at the clinic and Colleen busy helping Michaela. They only had two more days before she would be returning to Denver so Andrew had wanted to make sure they had a perfect afternoon.

He pulled in front of the clinic to find that Colleen was already outside waiting for him.

"I'm not late am I?" He asked as he hopped down from the carriage to greet Colleen.

"Not at all!" Colleen replied as she elevated her heels so that she could place a kiss upon Andrew's cheek. "It's just so beautiful out today that I thought I'd get a head start on all this wonderful fresh air"

Andrew smiled at how joyful and relaxed she was. It warmed his heart to know that he was part of the reason she was constantly bursting with positive vibes lately. He offered her his hand as she stepped up into the carriage, he followed and took a seat close to her. Colleen linked her arm through Andrew's and they drove off together.

Together they had decided to set up their lunch date in a meadow not too far from the property of the Spring Chateau. There was a beautiful view of the Rocky Mountain range and a narrow stream flowing through. It was a popular spot on the hotel's nature walk that they offered in the summer and was usually a common place for locals to picnic if they were looking to head outside of town. It was quiet though when Andrew and Colleen arrived. Due to the still somewhat cooler weather, they were the only ones around. They didn't mind one bit.

Colleen unfolded the blanket that Andrew had brought and spread it out on the ground as Andrew grabbed the picnic basket and joined her.

"Are you hungry now or should we wait a bit?" He asked, sitting down on the blanket.

"Let's wait a bit" Colleen decided after taking a seat next to Andrew and looking upon the mountains off in the distance.

She leaned back on her elbows and stretched out her legs. Andrew did the same. They sat in silence for a moment, appreciating the scenery and soft sounds of nature.

"I love it out here, it's so peaceful" Colleen stated as she closed her eyes and dipped her head back, breathing in the fresh air.

Andrew turned on his side towards Colleen and just stared at her, admiring her beauty. The sun shone on her face making her skin glow. Her red hair caught the light just right and the small tendrils that framed her face blew in the wind. How did I get so lucky for this woman to be in love with me? Andrew thought. He moved closer to her and slipped one arm under her already dangling shawl and around her shoulder and the other around her waist. He pulled her close to him and kissed her. Colleen was surprised that Andrew was so bold, but she was pleased. She opened her eyes for a moment and quickly closed them again, taking in Andrew's gentle kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck and melted into his arms. When their lips parted, they both opened their eyes and looked deep into one another's soul. They said nothing to each other because there was no need. They were honestly and whole heartedly in love with one another and they both already knew it. Colleen laid her head all the way down onto the blanket and pulled Andrew in for another kiss. The kiss was deeper and more passionate. Colleen and Andrew lost themselves in one another awakening feelings of desire. They were still fairly new feelings for the both of them. Andrew increased the tightness of his embrace, pressing their bodies hard against each other. Colleen didn't mind. She let it happen and kissed Andrew harder as she interlocked her hands behind his head, keeping him close to her. Andrew slid his hand from Colleen's waist, up the side of her body and stroked his thumb over her breast. Colleen stopped and pulled back for a moment. Her eyes widened, which mortified Andrew.

"I'm so sorry!" he said and began to pull away from Colleen but she stopped him.

"No" she said softly shaking her head. "It's ok." Colleen slowly kissed Andrew ever so lightly while keeping her eyes locked on his.

A grin grew over Andrew's face as Colleen's lips left his. He brought his hand to her cheek and caressed the side of her face. He leaned back into her and they kissed again. This time their feelings of desire softened to something more romantic and controlled. Andrew's hand left her cheek and he gently traced her jawline and glided his fingers down her neck. She broke from their kiss to let out a deep breath. Andrew brushed his lips where his fingers had just been, sending a pleasurable chill down Colleen's spine. Colleen closed her eyes and brought Andrew's lips to hers as he wrapped his arms around her waist, bringing her close to him once more.

After spending some time wrapped up with each other and their newly found passions, Colleen and Andrew happily separated from one another long enough to enjoy their lunch. They lovingly and deeply stared into each others eyes the entire time they ate and when they were done, Colleen moved closer to Andrew and sitting by his side, she leaned into him. She rested her head on his shoulder, took a deep breath in and let out a content sigh. Andrew kissed the top of her head and wrapped his arms around her. Together they sat in silence, both watching the trees blow in the wind and listening to the stream flow steadily over the rocks. They were at peace in that moment and nothing could change the joy they both felt.

Colleen spotted a young teen walking beside the stream carrying some fishing gear and whistling to himself.

"Brian?" Colleen asked shouting to her brother.

"Hey Colleen! Hey Andrew!" Brian said approaching the couple.

"Are the fish biting?" Andrew asked.

Brian shrugged. "Eh not really... I was just about to head home. What are you two doing out here?"

Colleen and Andrew exchanged a mischievously playful look. "Not much" Colleen responded coyly. "Just having a picnic. Enjoying the sunny day""

Brian looked at Colleen and Andrew who were looking at each other all starry eyed. He rolled his eyes a bit at his sister and her beau, getting the impression that he should leave them to themselves. "Well I guess I'll see you at home then!" He told them as he turned to walk away.

"See ya at home!" Colleen shouted out to her brother before getting an idea. "Brian wait!" She called, causing him to pause and turn back around. "Could you leave your fishing stuff with us? I'll bring it all home for you later on"

Colleen glanced at Andrew who looked a little uncertain and she laughed to herself. Brian shrugged and agreed to leave his things, handed them over and then went on his way.

"Fishing?" Andrew asked.

"Yeah! Why not!" Colleen told him, excited. "It's been awhile since I've done it. It could be fun!" She got up to head down to the stream but Andrew hesitated.

"What? There was no good fishing in Boston?" Colleen asked, looking down at Andrew

"There was plenty of good fishing nearby it's just not something that I ever did. I was always too busy with school. Even as a child." Andrew replied.

Colleen had suspected that Andrew had never fished before and loved that she would have the opportunity to show him something new. It wasn't something she'd been able to do since she taught him how to ride a horse when he first arrived in Colorado Springs. "Come on then. Never too late to learn!" She said offering Andrew her hand. He took it willfully, grinning up at her and wondering how it would even be possible to say no to her.

As they found a spot by the riverbank, Colleen dug up a worm in the dirt and rigged it up on the hook for bait as Andrew looked on, still a bit uncertain. As he watched her he was reminded of her small town charm. It was something he had nearly forgotten about her as she so easily fit in with him at the clinic talking about research and medicine or in the big city of Denver and all of it's high class culture. At heart, she was clearly still a country girl. It was what made her who she was though. Strong, determined, modest, sweet. Andrew wouldn't have loved her any other way.

Colleen took a seat close to the water and Andrew joined her. She handed him the pole and urged him to cast it. He reluctantly took the pole from his smirking girlfriend and whipped the line into the stream. Colleen's brows lifted in surprise as he didn't do all that bad. Much better than she expected. Then she was even more surprised when she saw a tug at the line. She leapt up to her feet!

"You caught something! Tug the line!" Colleen shouted excitedly!

"What?! What do I do?!" Andrew said in a panic and instinctively pulled the pole upwards. There was definitely a tug on the other end. He stood up along side of Colleen.

"You have to set the hook! Pull up! Pull up!" Colleen commanded energetically as she was nearly jumping up and down. Andrew did as he was told and could feel the weight of something on the other end.

Andrew grabbed the line and started to pull it in until the very tiny fish he had caught was dangling out of the water.

"You've got to get the hook out!" Colleen told him. "Grab the fish. hold him still"

Andrew held the fish as Colleen said, albeit with a bit of hesitation and look of borderline disgust. Colleen laughed audibly at Andrew's awkwardness. She stepped up and easily took the hook out of the fish's jaw herself, as Andrew watched, relieved. Suddenly the fish squirmed and slipped right from Andrew's grip.

"Ahh!" Andrew yelled out and Colleen's eyes widened with surprise.

"Get it! Quick!" Colleen yelled and then laughed at Andrew as he lunged toward the fish flopping about in the dirt. He missed. He moved towards it again. It flopped in the opposite direction causing Andrew to miss again. He sized up the fish with a look of determination on his face and again reached out to snatch the fish only to fall to the ground as he watched his catch make its own way back into the water and swim off down the stream, leaving behind a hysterically humored Colleen and a defeated Andrew.

Colleen walked over to Andrew and took a seat next to him by the water. Andrew put his arm around a still giggling Colleen and let out a chuckle himself. "So... how'd I do?" He joked.

"Hmmm... Maybe we should just stick to picnics!" Colleen replied and placed her head on Andrew's shoulder as the couple couldn't help continuing to laugh together.