Chapter 15

Island in the Sun

When you're on a holiday

You can't find the words to say

All the things that come to you

And I wanna feel it too

            California.  Where else would Alan pick when given the choice for the destination of the honeymoon?  He didn't have any real preference; as long as he was with J, he'd be happy in the Alaskan tundra.  As it was J's dream to visit California, Alan chose to go there. 

***

On an island in the sun

We'll be playing and having fun

And it makes me feel so fine

I can't control my brain

            On their first day there, J immediately begged Alan to let her take surfing lessons.  He was completely fine with the idea, but reluctant to take them himself.  Consequently, Alan ended up on the beach watching J as she learned how to ride the waves.  Alan was perfectly happy on the sand, the sea breeze tousling his hair.  He spent an entire morning with a sketchpad in his lap and pencil in hand, creating a portrait of J on a surfboard.  He had to draw most of the scene from memory, however, because surfing wasn't exactly one of the most inactive of sports.

            From then on, Alan learned that he would have more luck with the camera.  Over the course of the next few days, Alan built up a collection of photographs of J learning how to surf, and soon surfing on her own.  Alan also tried his hand at sand sculpture-making.  He produced some amazingly intricate results.  In turn, a dazzled J took a stab at photography, capturing Alan's creations forever.  Then finally, she convinced Alan to go surfing with her.  That was quite an adventure.

***

When you're on a golden sea

You don't need no memory

Just a place to call your own

As we drift into the zone

            "I've never seen anyone take in that much salt water before in my life.  You even got it up your nose," J commented as she tried to suppress another laugh.  She was on her way back up to the room with Alan after his…experience surfing.

            "Fine, mock my near-death experience," Alan grumbled as he trudged into the elevator. 

            J rolled her eyes and bit her lip to keep from laughing.  "Alan, you know how to swim.  It wasn't like the water was that deep, either.  Besides," she hit the button for their floor and sauntered into Alan's embrace.  "I was right there to save you if you showed any signs of drowning."

            Alan dropped his disgruntled act and wrapped his arms around J from the behind, placing his chin on her shoulder.  "Mmm," he murmured.  "My hero."  The couple was silent until they reached their floor.  On the way out of the elevator, a thought occurred to J.

            "You know, I think I just figured out why you wiped out and why you're always getting hurt."

            "Really?" Alan replied.  He unlocked their door and held it open for J.  "Why's that?"

            J stopped, staring at him until he gave up and went in first.  "Because you're a klutz."

            Alan closed the door with a soft click.  "I am n—"

            "You are too."

            Alan opened his mouth and shut it again.  "I—no I'm not."

            J folded her arms across her chest and gazed at him, clearly stating, 'yes you are.'  Suddenly she grinned.  "But that's alright.  Klutziness is so cute.  And you're my klutz."

            Alan smiled.  "Oh, well that's alright then.  But I'm still not a klutz."

            "Are too."

            "Are not."

            "Are too…"

***

On an island in the sun

We'll be playing and having fun

And it makes me feel so fine

I can't control my brain

            Very early the following morning, about 3 or so, J couldn't sleep.  Alan was deep in slumber beside her, and she didn't want to disturb him.  Unable to think of anything else to do, J decided to watch again the video taken during their reception.  Smiling, (Alan was so adorable when he was sleeping, even if he was nothing more than a mound under the blanket) J popped the tape into the VCR (honeymoon suits go all-out).  It happened to be right at her favorite part.  The best man's speech…

***

            "Alright, alright, everyone quiet!" J's cousin (father of Jessica), Derek, called.  He tapped on his glass to silence the room.  "I believe it's time for the best man's speech!"  The room fell quiet as everyone turned expectant gazes to Sunshine.  He stopped plowing his fork full of food from his plate to his mouth long enough to glance back up at everyone else. 

            "What?" he asked, mouth full of mashed potatoes. 

            Adrienne, who was sitting beside him, nudged his elbow.  "Yes," she whispered.  "You're supposed to have a speech prepared as the best man."  She watched with amusement Sunshine's visage as it grew in panic.  Apparently he had not been aware of the tradition.  "Though," she added, "this being Alan and J, you'll probably be able to get away with just standing up and saying whatever comes to our mind.  Or even nothing at all; J won't care and I doubt that Alan will either."

            Gulping down the last of his meal, Sunshine stood and flashed everyone a nervous smile with a meek wave.  "Hi."  Heads nodded in acknowledgement as those who knew Sunshine hid grins behind hands and napkins.  "Uhh…I don't have much of a speech prepared," snickers came from Petey's direction.  Sunshine glanced that way and felt anxiety gnaw at his insides.  "Because, really, what can you say about these two?  I mean, I've known them since junior year, but there's so much more history there that I'm only beginning to learn about."

            "Nice save," Coach Boone muttered as Alan and J's relatives mumbled in approval. 

            "So I'll just stick to today," Sunshine continued with a big breath.  "It's sure been a good day, hasn't it?  Good food, good music," he began to stammer as he made things up as he went along.  "Good people, good food, good party, good food, good dancing…did I mention the food?"  He smiled weakly.  "It all fits this good, no, GREAT, couple."  He finished, glancing fearfully at the blank or amused faces (depending on who was looking).  He shrugged, "I'm done," and sat down.  Silence…then laughter and clapping followed.  J stuck her fingers in her mouth and let loose a loud, piercing and congratulatory whistle. 

***

            J shook her head fondly at the memory.  Her relatives had found Sunshine charming, at least most of them.  A few older relatives of Alan's had required some damage control, but J wouldn't have had it any other way.  She settled back to watch the rest of the video.  About an hour later, during the father of the bride/bride dance (J was dancing with Coach, for he had taken on the role of her father as well) J felt her eyelids beginning to droop.  Once the dance was over, she decided, she would go to bed.

            All of a sudden, she spotted movement in the background, in the corner.  Strange, she and Alan must have watched this tape a zillion times, but neither of them had ever noticed that before.  J gasped; all fatigue cleared from her brain in an instant.  It couldn't be!  How—why…she hit the pause button and elbowed Alan frantically.  "Alan!" she hissed.  His answer was only a muffled moan, somewhat resembling a "wha?" from beneath the blankets and the slight movement caused by him rolling over.  "Alan!" she said again, louder this time with a harder prod on the shoulder.

            Bleary eyed, Alan poked his head out from beneath the covers.  "Wha?"

            J, seemingly in shock, continued to jab him, eyes plastered to the frozen image on the screen.  "Alan!"

            "Wha?"  Alan sat up in bed, rubbing the back of his neck, still groggy, trying to figure out what was so amazing about J in mid-waltz with Coach. 

            Finally, J ceased poking, (Alan massaged his shoulder thankfully) and pointed to the corner of the screen.  "LOOK, LOOK,LOOK!"

            Half asleep and not entirely seeing straight, Alan followed J's finger, squinting at the picture.  There, out in the hallway of the reception center, were a shadowed but visible Sunshine and Adrienne.  Both had loving and elated smiles on their faces.  Sunshine was dropped to one knee, holding a little black box in his left hand.  Nothing else could be seen, but that was enough.  Alan blinked.  "Oh…that's nice, dear," and proceeded to lay back down.  He pulled the covers over his head.  "…WHAT?!"

            Alan was out of bed and standing right next to the television a second later.  He gaped at the scene.  "That's…that's wonderful, that's great!" he exclaimed.  "But why didn't they tell us?"

            "Think about it," J answered from the bed, too comfortable and warm to get up.  "They knew that we'd only be happy and receptive about it, but it's still kinda rude to announce an engagement during someone else's wedding.  It's like shifting the focus."

            Alan scratched the back of his head as he returned to the bed.  "Yeah, you're right."  He paused for a moment.  "You know, we should call them.  What time is it back in Alexandria?  It's 4 a.m. here."

            "I'm not sure exactly," J replied.  She looked at him with mischievously twinkling eyes.  "Call back home in the middle of our honeymoon?"

            Alan shrugged, "yeah, I know it's not ordinary, but I want to and I know you do too.  Besides, it's something different, something not most people would do.  Isn't that what we're all about?"

            J nodded with a puckish grin. "Looks like I'm rubbing off on you."

            Alan stroked his chin.  "Now all I have to do is figure out of that's a good thing or a bad thing."  He was answered with a smack from J's pillow.  Grabbing his own pillow, he retaliated.  The newlyweds continued their pillow fight until the first fingertips of the sun smudged the horizon.

***

We'll run away together

We'll spend some time forever

We'll never feel bad anymore

            As much fun as it was, the honeymoon had to come to a close.  Alan and J returned to Alexandria and lived at J's house until they found a home that was larger.  It only took a few weeks until they bought a house and moved in, but then they had been searching since the summer.  The final decision was made something like this…

***

            J ran her fingers over the slickly painted walls.  "It's perfect, Alan!"

            Alan glanced at her from the hallway, where he was inspecting a window.  J was inside one of the rooms.  Alan moved to stand beside her, placing an arm around her shoulders.  "The house or the room?"

            J's eyes shone.  "Both.  This room is perfect for the baby!"

            Alan's arm slipped from it's place as he staggered in shock.  "What baby?  Already?!"

            J giggled a little, her nose crinkling.  "No, not yet.  But I want a baby by our first anniversary, kay?"

            Relieved, Alan straightened and returned his arm to its position around her shoulders.  He was quite agreeable.  "Oh, okay."

Life continued relatively normal and blissful from there.  Until Kora decides to give this story at least a little bit of a plot.  Maybe.  Hehe.  Now go r/r or I'll be sad and just stop posting/writing.