Gillian Kearney Fan, he's very innocent, but that's one thing I love about him! Thank you for your review.

Tanith Panic, don't worry about not getting the 'Honey and Nibbles' part. I didn't really expect anyone to until it was explained, but I don't think it matters if you're sharing Ethan's confusion. I'm glad you liked the last line. Thank you for your review.


Ethan shushed her as gently as he could. "Honey, please don't shout about my underwear. Someone might hear."

Honey's eyes were wide with panic. "Didn't you hear what I just said?"

"Yes, of course I did. You said that…" Ethan was feeling panicky too now. "Oh gosh. That is a problem."

"Yeah, and I don't suppose you're up for going in there and asking for help, are you?" said Honey.

"Well… I don't think we can really do that without giving them completely the wrong impression," said Ethan.

"The wrong impression?" almost shrieked Honey. Ethan shushed her again. "What would be wrong about their impression?"

Ethan was blushing. For a change. "If we tell them what's happened, they might think we were… you know…"

"What's wrong with that?" said Honey.

"Everything!" said Ethan. "It's just… not right. We have guests."

Honey sighed. "Then what are we going to do? Stay stuck like this forever? Not that I mind, but I don't think you can hide the fact you've got a girl hanging out of your pants."

"No." Ethan tried to put his head in his hands, but Honey's head was in the way. "Oh my goodness. What are we going to do?"

"That's what I'm asking you!" said Honey. "You're supposed to be the smart one!"

Yes, that was true… though Ethan happened to have a very high opinion of Honey's intellect. She understood all kinds of things that were a complete mystery to Ethan.

"Do you have any ideas?" asked Ethan.

Honey thought for a moment. She smiled. "I suppose you could just take them off."

Ethan looked at her in horror. "Take them off? In public?"

"Well… yeah," said Honey. "Haven't you ever done that before?"

"Of course not!" said Ethan, shocked at the idea, before remembering Honey used to work in a strip club. "I mean… not that there's anything wrong with it. I just… haven't."

Honey's free hand dropped to the front of his trousers. "First time for everything."

"You-you-you can't!" said Ethan, aware he was jumping up and down on the spot, which probably made him look ridiculous, but he couldn't stop himself. "I… I… I'm not ready."

Honey sighed. "Ethan, this is our engagement party and you're not ready?"

"Not for taking off my trousers and goodness-knows-what-else in public," said Ethan.

"But Ethan, it's dark!" said Honey. "No-one's going to see."

"They will if they come outside," said Ethan. "If Cal decides to take Robyn out for metaphorical air…"

Honey shrugged. "Doesn't matter if they do. They'll be doing exactly the same thing as us if I knew your brother. Except that… oh. Ew."

"What's wrong?" said Ethan, trying not to sound too hopeful.

Honey's nose was all crinkled. "I don't think I'd like to see your brother with his pants off."

"No?" said Ethan, rather surprised.

"We're getting married!" said Honey. "He's practically my brother. That would be just… wrong. Don't you think?"

"Oh. Yes. Very wrong," said Ethan. He felt very happy until he remembered their situation. "So we need an alternative plan."

Honey nodded. "I mean, not that there aren't worst places I could have my hand stuck. Like if I'd got my hand stuck in that drain when I was looking for my… um... my… my watch!"

Ethan looked at her in concern. "You dropped your watch down a drain?"

"Yeah, but it was years ago," said Honey. "It doesn't matter now."

Ethan was still worried. He couldn't help it. "Did you get it back?"

"Yeah, well, it actually wasn't really down there," said Honey. "I just thought it was."

"Ah. I see," said Ethan, who didn't.

Honey sighed. "This is pants, this is."

Ethan couldn't stop himself from laughing. "We've really got our knickers in a twist now."

Honey stared at him. "You what?"

"We've been caught underwears," said Ethan. He was enjoying himself now. He knew he shouldn't really be enjoying himself as they were still in a rather unfortunate situation, but he did love puns. "So we need to g-string ourselves up a bit."

Honey's jaw dropped. "You WHAT?"

"Because some-thong really is horribly wrong," said Ethan.

"What are you talking about?"

"It's far from just a smalls problem," said Ethan.

"Are you trying to be clever or something?"

Ethan leaned against Honey and laughed some more. "But I'm sure we can get out of it if we think outside the boxers."

Honey pouted. "No offence, Ethan, but you've had way too much to drink."

"I'm not drunk," said Ethan. "It's just a brief case of the giggles."

"It better had be!" said Honey. Then she groaned. "Oh, wait. I get it. Brief case. You're doing those pun things, aren't you? About bags and stuff?"

"No, I'm making puns about…" Ethan stopped.

He was making puns about underwear.

To his fiancée.

In public.

"Ethan?" said Honey. "Why are you blushing?"

"Because I forgot, um, the seriousness of our situation," said Ethan. "I shouldn't have let myself get distracted by, um, other things. But it won't happen again."

Honey almost looked fierce. "Because I didn't come out here so you could blush and giggle like a virgin. Which you're not."

Ethan put his hands over his hot face. "Honey, do you have to shout?" Silently, he added: I know I started this, but I really drawers the line at this turn of conversation.

"Sex isn't embarrassing, Ethan."

"Of course it's not. Of corset..." Ethan put his hands over his mouth. "Oh gosh. I am so sorry!"

Honey rolled her eyes. "Are you sure you haven't been drinking?"

"Perhaps I have," said Ethan. Something is causing me to make all these bloomers. Honey must think I'm completely undercrackers.

He collapsed in giggles again. He knew he was verging on hysteria now. As opposed to virgin on hysteria.

"Right: that's it. I'm going inside!" said Honey, and tried to storm off, but of course, Ethan ended up going with her.

He tried to be serious. "There must be something we can-"

He stopped. They were almost at the door now. The light was on and a figure was illuminated. Whether they were looking out or about to open the door, Ethan didn't know and didn't care. He dragged Honey behind a tree.

"Ah, yes, this is more like it!" said Honey.

"Shh!" hissed Ethan as the door opened.

It was Robyn. For a horrible moment, Ethan thought Cal might follow her, but instead, Robyn shut the door. She walked a few steps to the wall, sat on it and began to cry.

Ethan was furious. Obviously that brother of his had broken her heart. "I'd better go and speak to her. You stay here if you like."

"Not sure that's an option really," said Honey. "We're kind of attached to each other."

Ethan smiled in delight. "That's a good one!" He kissed her quickly and tried to think of a response, but Robyn was crying more and more loudly. "Maybe if I phone Lofty and tell him Robyn's out here… no, that's no good. He'll want to know why I can't go myself…"

"You could, you know," said Honey. "I'm sure Robyn won't tell if we ask her not to."

Ethan just looked at her.

"Okay. Maybe she would," admitted Honey. She looked at Robyn. "But we've got to do something."

The door opened again and Cal appeared. No doubt he was going to let Robyn down gently and tell her what a great girl he was and how he loved her like a sister.

"Robyn?" Cal moved towards her and failed to notice the step Ethan had tripped over her earlier, but unfortunately, Cal didn't end up on his rear end. All it did was propel him towards Robyn more quickly. "Robyn, what's wrong?" He sat beside her and put his arm around her. "Louise didn't upset you, did she?"

"Not really," sniffed Robyn. "I just hate myself, Cal."

"Well, you're the only person here who does," said Cal. He put his other arm around her and pushed her head into his shoulder. You have no reason to hate yourself. None at all. And I can't wait to see you in your bridesmaid's outfit."

Robyn sobbed still harder. "I don't want to be a bridesmaid anymore."

"What?" gasped Honey. She turned to look at Ethan, her eyes pooling with tears. "What did I do, Ethan? What did I do?"