Chapter 18: Saturday evening
A/N: Well, I told you this chapter would be up sooner.
Thanks to white rose01 for beta-reading!
SaucerEyes – Yes, I agree. Well, they're brothers, so it's not a surprise that they're both evil. ;) I hope that the fact that I've updated so soon has made up for the shortness of both. :) Thanks for the review!
Ravenlua – I'm glad you like the story. Thanks for the compliment. Was this soon enough?
And on to the story.
It had been a tiring, yet satisfactory day. John sat back in a chair as Nicole was taking a shower. Ben wasn't home yet, but they expected him to drop in any moment now. But at this moment, John just relished in the peace and quiet, looking back at the day.
Nicole and John had taken Phoebe with them to the lake where they had rented a sailboat.
Flashback:
It was warm, though the cool breeze made it bearable. As soon as they had put their stuff in the boat and had left the land behind them, John clasped the main-sheet and Nicole handed him the jib-sheet. This way John was able to sail the boat on his own, while Nicole put sun cream on Phoebe's skin and explained why she should be careful when she stood up, because they didn't want her to get the boom against her head.
The three people sailed for a while, crossing the lake. By lunchtime they used to anchor, put down the sails, and unpacked the sandwiches, lemonade, coffee and cookies. At some point Nicole and John were 'arguing' about the sandwiches. Phoebe watched as if she was watching a ping pong game, following the 'ball' with her eyes. She giggled.
Finally John said: "I think you need to cool off a little."
Nicole immediately knew what he was referring to and shook her head in denial. "No, you are NOT going to dunk me for the second time in as many days!"
John grinned, winking at Phoebe who sat watching the two adults in amused fascination. Nicole grabbed the shroud nearest to her, determined not to get wet again.
"John! I don't have spare clothes with me!"
This however did not deviate John from his intended plan of action.
"I know. What I do know however, is that under those clothes, you wear your bathing suit." John pointed at the colourful straps that were visible where Nicole's T-shirt did not cover her shoulders.
"I didn't put it on to go swimming!" Nicole countered. John came closer…
End of Flashback
He had ended up throwing Nicole into the water first. Then Nicole had taken her revenge, with help from Phoebe, and had thrown John into the water. Phoebe had sat on the edge of the boat, watching John coming back up for air. John and Nicole shared a look, and within moments Phoebe was in the water too, held secure in John's embrace. Phoebe knew how to swim, but she was still not quite comfortable in 'bigger' water than the swimming pool.
After the first shock had dissipated, Phoebe had started giggling. Nicole had sat on the boat as she observed the man she had only recently admitted to love, who was making the eight-year-old girl more at ease in the water. John had caught her eyes and smiled. Phoebe, who by then had been swimming around the boat on her own, had been oblivious to the loving expressions exchanged by her 'aunt' and 'uncle'. When Phoebe had begun to tire, Nicole had pulled her back onboard. The rest of the day they had spent sailing, the two adults actually teaching the little girl about the sport. By 5 p.m. John and Nicole had brought the eight-year-old home, and had returned to the Evers' house, waiting for Ben.
"Your turn." Nicole entered the room. John nodded, and stood up. When he passed her, he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, marvelling in the fact that he could. Nicole smiled, then smacked him gently on the butt.
"Move it Mister! I just showered, and I don't feel like taking a second one within thirty minutes."
John chuckled, but did as she said. After he had showered, he was trying to find Nicole, and finally found her in the garden, watering the flowers. John approached her from behind and put his arms around her waist. A smile tugged at her lips and she turned around slightly in his arms so that their eyes, and soon after their lips, met. After a few moments they heard someone clapping, and they quickly broke off the kiss. When they turned around, they could see who it was.
"So, you finally decided to wake up, didn't you."
The couple just stood there, unmoving, not quite understanding what he meant. Ben sighed. "And these people are supposed to be the smart ones of us three. I mean, you finally got together!"
Now Nicole snapped out of it.
"Ben! You're back."
"Yup. Apparently so. And look at what I found in the garden." Ben answered, not letting go just yet. "My sister and my 'brother' who have come to their senses at last!"
"Oh, so I take it you saw this coming for a looong time then… and approve." Nicole retorted.
"Yup. Well, the approve-part I'm not sure of anymore. After all, Johnny-boy here did admit his job to be dangerous. I'm not sure whether I really want you involved with that, especially since I don't know exactly what 'that' is."
"Well, Ben, why don't we go inside so I can fill you in." John said. This time it was Ben's turn to look surprised.
"Wh, what? I thought you couldn't tell!"
"I couldn't, but that's changed. Now get inside. Did you have dinner yet?"
"No, grabbed some coffee on the way here, but that's it. Did you?"
"No, not yet."
"OK," Nicole said determinedly, "you guys go and catch up. I'll fix dinner. Now, get inside you two."
The two men went to the living room. Ben sat down in one of the fauteuils, while John opted to sit on the couch opposite him. John then proceeded to give Ben the basics and some details about his job. Nicole could follow the conversation partly through Ben's exclamations.
"You're part of WHAT! Have you picked up a fever or something? You're talking gibberish." Nicole grinned as she looked in the cupboards and fridge to see what they had.
"You're NOT kidding!"
OK, Ben seemed to have accepted the fact that John wasn't lying to him. Nicole closed the cupboard and walked into the living room. Ben still had a stunned look on his face, even as John continued to explain a bit more about his job. Nicole sat down at the other end of the couch and waited till John was finished. Ben sat back.
"Well, that's quite some revelation." He glared at his sister. "You could have given me a warning, or at least a heads-up."
Nicole grinned. "And spoil all the fun? No way!"
"And Ben? Is my job too dangerous?" John asked seriously. Ben knew immediately what John was really asking.
"Well, it sounds quite dangerous to me. At least it's not some sort of undercover detective sort of thing, where you have at least twenty enemies in every town. So I'd say, Nicole, if it's what you want, go ahead… Not that I would have been able to stop you anyway." Ben muttered good-naturedly.
"I have to be honest; IR is not completely without enemies either. I mean, we're a secret organisation, with some powerful machines and technology. There are people, even governments who would want our organisation to shut down, or steal our technology. We are not enemy-free I'm afraid."
Nicole spoke before Ben could even open his mouth.
"Everyone has people who don't like them. You're doing a great job with this organisation, and I think the danger is worth it. It doesn't keep me from loving you or wanting to be with you."
John smiled relieved. Ben interrupted with a dramatic sigh. "Guess I don't have any problems with it either. Not that either of you would have cared." He winked. "So, any plans for the near future?"
"Actually yes," John started, "I've invited Nicole to come with me to the island to meet the family. You're welcome too."
"When are you leaving?"
"Tomorrow morning. I know it's a short notice."
"Yes. I don't think I'll manage to get time off this quickly." He said regretfully. "Another time?"
"Of course, you're always welcome. Though a call ahead would be appreciated." John winked.
"Deal."
"So," Nicole started, as this part of the conversation seemed to be over, "what would you like to eat? Italian or Chinese?"
The two men looked at her questioningly. Nicole shrugged. "We've got nothing stomach filling in house, so we'll have to either go to a restaurant, which I don't really feel like doing, or order something. Which is it going to be?"
The three of them decided to order Chinese. While waiting for the food, Ben talked about his work, and John and Nicole about their hike and their day with Phoebe. They didn't go to bed too late, seeing as John and Nicole still had a long flight tomorrow.
A/N: And that was the end of this chapter. Yes, again a short one. But I hope the speed with which I've updated made up for it. :)