Chapter 3 – Taking the Next Step:

"So how's it going with you two lovebirds?" Terk teased as she, Tarzan and Tantor relaxed together one day under a tree near the shore of the river.

"Fine," Tarzan replied, watching Jane wash her and her father's clothes a little further down river. Jane looked up and saw him watching her, waved and blew him a kiss. Tarzan pretended to catch it before waving back, his face forming a soppy grin. Terk rolled her eyes at this romantic exchange but she was glad that Jane had stayed as it made her friend so happy and that made her happy too.

"I don't get why Jane and the Professor wear those darn clothes?" Terk watched Jane in amusement as she went back to beating a sopping wet blouse against a rock, "Does she have a scaly chest or something that she hides under them T?"

"Terk!" Tantor scolded his friend, but Terk ignored him.

"Or she is bare skinned like you?"

"I, I, don't know," Tarzan replied, "I have not seen her without clothes on."

"So you don't take them things off when you two mate? Surely they must get in the way?"

"We, we," Tarzan stammered, his cheeks turning bright red with embarrassment, "we haven't mated yet."

"WHAT!" Terk was incredulous at Tarzan's confession! "Jane is the most beautiful female human I have ever seen! How could you not mate with her?"

"Terk, Jane is the only female human you have ever seen!" Tarzan shot back but he knew that Terk was right.

"But you two are so lovely dovey all time! Always holding hands and always… what did you call it again?"

"Kissing."

"And?"

"Cuddling."

"Yet no mating?" Terk blew a frustrated sound with her lips, "You're mad T!"

"It's just … I don't know how humans mate," Tarzan said somewhat uncomfortably, "Maybe they mate completely differently from you gorillas."

"Has Jane made any courting signals? Has she given off any mating scents?" Terk asked curiously, always keen to learn about new aspects of human behaviour.

"Not that I know of and she always smells lovely. But nothing like what the female gorillas give off."

"Maybe Jane isn't supposed to make the first move," Tantor interjected, "maybe in human societies it's the males who have to do the courting?"

Tarzan pondered. He had made it his task to not only make Jane feel right at home in the jungle and with the gorilla troop but also to do nice, little romantic things for her. He would often give her little posies of flowers, collect food for her or make her a nest. But every night for the past couple of weeks Jane would peck him on the lips, quietly wish him a good night and they would go to sleep in their separate nests.

"Maybe humans have a certain time of year for mating?" Tantor suggested, "And Jane's just not in season yet?"

"Maybe humans lay eggs like the birds?" Terk interjected, "Or maybe they don't mate at all? Maybe they just grow out of the ground like trees and plants!"

"Don't be silly Terk!" Tarzan rolled his eyes disparagingly. The thought of Jane laying a huge egg in a bird like nest or many of him growing out of the ground seemed completely ridiculous!

"Well why don't you just ask her!" Terk huffed, annoyed at her friend's instant dismissal of her idea.

"I can't, Jane is a lady. It would not be proper to ask a lady."

"Maybe you should ask the Professor," Tantor suggested kindly, "he's very wise and seems to know everything."

Tarzan considered this but shook his head. The idea of asking Jane's father on how to mate with his own daughter seemed inappropriate to say the least!

"Well I'm fresh out of ideas!" Terk snapped, "You're on your own with this one buddy!"

Tarzan sighed and went back to watching Jane. She was just finishing up when a piece of hair fell in front of her face. Tarzan felt the pace of his heart quicken as she slowly and delicately tuck the strand behind her ear with a damp hand. A trickle of cool water slid down the side of her slender golden neck and down into her white bodice, into her cleavage. Tarzan's eyebrows furrowed and his jaw tightened in determination. "Hang up Jane's washing will you?" he more or less commanded to his friends as he hauled himself up. He then pulled himself up to his full height and strode over with great resolve and purpose in each step.

"I think I know what Tarzan and Jane are going to be doing today!" Tantor looked at Terk and the two friends gave each other a knowing glance before bursting into helpless giggles!

"Oh! Tarzan," Jane looked up and suddenly saw him standing in front of her, his great height towering above her. Jane could instantly sense that Tarzan had not come over just to chat. His body language, his stance and his eyes clearly expressed that he was a man on a mission.

"Jane I want you to go for a walk with me." Jane was a little caught off guard by the bold and forward tone of his voice yet secretly attracted to it.

"Why Sir it would be my pleasure," she smiled politely as Tarzan held out his hand, pulled her up and then offered the crook of his arm. Jane slipped her arm through his and they strolled off into the jungle, the washing left abandoned in a sodden pile on the rock.

They walked arm in arm for a long time, looking just any other young courting couple walking in a park or on a promenade back in England. Tarzan decided to take Jane to a series for small waterfalls deep in the jungle where they could be alone and he could ask her without any possible interruptions. They chatted to each other in gorilla tongue; Jane was determined to learn the language as quickly as she could by speaking as little English as possible. Their conversation was stilted but not due to Jane struggling to pronounce sounds or think of words, it was full of nerves and awkward pauses of a different kind.

"You're doing well Jane," Tarzan said as they walked along, "your gorilla keeps getting better and better."

"Thank you Tarzan, I do struggle a little still but I'm sure I will be fluent in no time. Your family is very patient with me and you are an excellent teacher."

"You're welcome Jane. You're becoming more and more like an ape everyday."

"Like an ape! Well I never!" Jane cried indignantly but immediately changed her tone as she saw his surprised and slightly hurt expression, "Heard such a sweet sentiment!"

Tarzan's face relaxed, relieved that he had not offended her. Soon enough they arrived at the waterfalls, crystal clear water gently cascading down several levels of hard rock with a mesmerising deep pool at the bottom decorated with large moss covered rocks.

"Oh Tarzan!" Jane gasped in delight as they headed over to the pool's edge, "This is so beautiful! Why have you not brought me here before?"

"I wanted to save the best for last," Tarzan gave a sheepish smile as they sat themselves down and Jane dangled her feet in the cool water. As they sat side by side in an awkward silence; Tarzan picked up a pebble and moved it back and forth between his fingers, desperately trying to think of what was the best way to ask her.

"Ja, Jane," he stuttered nervously, "do hu – do you like the family?" he found him backing out and tossed the pebble into the pool in frustration.

"Of course!" Jane beamed as the pebble sunk with a huge plop! "Everyone is so welcoming and friendly. Kala is so caring and loving, Tantor is just adorable and Terk… well Terk is something else!" Jane laughed a merry laugh as she picked up a pebble, much more flatter than the one he chose and managed to make it skim across the pool. "She is very quick witted, when my gorilla is better I will be able to make some comebacks of my own!"

"Do you, are you…happy in the jungle… being here with me?"

"Yes of course," Jane looked at him, her face a little confused, "Tarzan ….are YOU happy with me being here?"

"Oh yes! More than anything!"

"Then why are you asking me this? Is everything alright?"

"Yes," Tarzan shrugged his shoulders, frustrated at his lack of courage, "just checking that's all."

"Ooo-ooh-ee-ah-ooo," Jane said the first phrase he taught her. Jane stays with Tarzan. Tarzan made a little smile and Jane smiled back, her cheeks slightly blushing. Tarzan was relieved; Jane did have no regrets in choosing to stay with him. It was her shyness, her being a lady that was standing in the way of them taking their relationship to the next level. He could see that it was going to have to be him that would have to make the first move, court her, woo her. "Jane stays here," Jane looked down at the water and then looked back up at him, a mischievous smile forming on her lips, "and Tarzan… goes in here!" Suddenly she shoved him into the pool, Tarzan was caught completely off guard and toppled in with a mighty splash! Jane howled with laughter as Tarzan emerged to the surface, spluttering and spitting!

"So much for being a lady!" he exclaimed as Jane continued to laugh hysterically.

"No! No no!" Jane managed to cry out between laughs as he swam over to her, "I haven't got my bathing suit on! Tarzan no! Tarzan please!" But he was having none of it, grabbing her by the ankles and pulled her into the deep water!

"I guess I deserved that!" she said when she came up for air, "But you deserve this!" Using her hand she slapped the water so it hit him in the face. Tarzan did the same back to her and very quickly they were having a splashing war, shrieking with playful laughter!

"Do you think we should head back?" Jane asked once they grew tired of playing and were now treading water. "We have been gone an awfully long time, I think the gorillas might start to worry."

"You're right," Tarzan nodded, "I guess we'd better go back." He wished they could stay longer but this trip had been so last minute and it wouldn't be right as leader to be away from the family for too long, unprotected. As they climbed out of the pool, water cascaded from Jane's clothes and Tarzan couldn't help but stare as her sodden cream bodice and red split skirt clung tightly to the soft, pert womanly curves of her body. They walked back at a quicker pace, Tarzan soon drying off in the warm sun. They went back to the river where they found the clothes that Jane had washed earlier draped neatly over a tree branch by Terk and Tantor, absolutely bone dry.

"Maybe she does have a scaly chest?" he wondered as Jane went into a nearby bush to change. When they walked into the nesting area they could see that the family were eating, relaxing and building nests, all safe and sound. Jane saw her father sitting with Kala and a couple of the older female gorillas conversing with them whilst scribbling furiously away in his journal.

"Hey Tarzan! T!" Terk called out as she bound over to them with Mungo and Flint either side of her. "So how did it go? You and Jane! Did you -"

"Rock the nest!" Mungo interrupted.

"Done the monkey business!" Flint quipped and the three of them burst into raucous laughter.

"What are they saying?" Jane looked to Tarzan for translation whilst inside he panicked.

"We were asking if you and our silverback stud Tarzan have finally mated today– OWW!" Terk yelped as Tarzan elbowed her hard in the ribs.

"Sorry? What did Terk say?"

"Swimming!" Tarzan interjected quickly, "Terk was asking you if we had a nice swim today, didn't you Terk?" he hissed under his breath.

"Yeah!" Terk nodded, rubbing her sore chest, "Swimming! Did you have a nice time swimming Jane?"

"Yes Terk," Jane replied politely, completely none the wiser, "it was very pleasant thank you."

"Well I guess we'd better leave you two to it," Terk nodded, "see you two lovebirds later. Come on guys." She motioned for the two males to follow her and as they walked away she rolled her eyes and muttered, "Humans! They're one crazy species!"

"Oh pardon me," Jane giggled after they decided where to nest, a spot secluded from the rest of the family and her stomach emitted a loud gurgle.

"Are you hungry Jane?"

"Positively starving! I'm so hungry I could eat a whole horse!"

"Horse? What's a horse?"

"Oh it's a large animal that we humans ride on and use as transport. It's also an expression we say when we are very very hungry."

"I don't think we have horses here, but I can get us some fruit." The sun was about to set soon and they hadn't eaten anything since breakfast.

"I'll get the fruit," Jane smiled, "you can build the nests. I won't be long."

Jane walked off into the jungle and Tarzan set about making the nests. As he finished his and held the leaves in his hands to make Jane's, he paused for a moment before tossing the leaves into the nearest bush. Jane came back a little while later, her arms filled with fruit. She noticed Tarzan sitting in the nest and that there not another one beside it.

"Can I use your knife please?" she asked as she sat cross-legged in front of him, deciding not to say anything about the one nest. Tarzan gave her his rock knife which she used to peel and cut up the fruit before tossing together on a banana leaf to make a salad. Tarzan then broke open a couple of coconuts for them to drink and they sat and dined in a companionable silence, the light around them turning a deep orange as the sun slowly made its way to sleep.

"Jane," Tarzan took a deep breath and spoke in English, "Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course," Jane replied, taking some more fruit from the banana leaf platter.

"It's a stupid question," he hesitated nervously, "you, you don't have to answer if you don't want to."

"Tarzan, one thing that Daddy has taught me is that there is no such thing as a stupid question. The only stupid question is the one that is never asked. Besides I won't know if I want to answer it or not unless you ask me." She smiled as she put a piece of melon into her mouth and chewed.

It was now or never, he couldn't wait any longer. He had to ask her. "Do, do humans…mate?" As soon as he said it, he wished he hadn't. Jane gulped down the piece of melon as if she had swallowed a huge mosquito!

"Uh, well, ur, umm," she stammered, "yes, yes they do Tarzan." Sex was such a taboo in her culture that it was unthinkable for her to openly discuss it, even though she knew that this issue would eventually come up. Every night for the past couple of weeks she had tried and failed to summon the courage to make the first move. Then when she thought she had finally psyched herself up, her courses started and so had to wait until they were finished, making every night frustrating and indeed embarrassing.

"Do they have a season for mating?"

"Umm no, humans mate all year around."

"Do they mate like the gorillas do?"

"Um yes, very similar," Jane nodded, her eyes downcast, "only we don't call it mating, we call it 'making love'."

"Making love," Tarzan repeated slowly, savouring the words, "I like that."

"But humans, people can only make love once they are married though," Jane added.

"Married?"

"When a man and woman love each other with all their hearts, they get married. First the man asks the woman whether or not she wants to marry him. Normally the man gets down on one knee when he proposes."

"Like in that slide?" Tarzan recalled the image of the man on one knee holding out the flowers and how he tried to do the same in his first attempt to make her stay.

"Exactly!" Jane relaxed a little, "And if the woman agrees then they get married in a ceremony called a 'wedding' where they promise to love and look after each other in front of all their friends and family. 'To have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part'," Jane quoted from the Book of Common Prayer, "then they are declared husband and wife."

"Til death us do part," Tarzan repeated, "Does that mean for life?"

"Yes Tarzan, for life. People marry for life." Tarzan's heart felt it could almost burst with joy at hearing her answer! The thought of being married to Jane for the rest of his life seemed wonderful to him beyond words! It was more than just mating with his kind, an unbreakable union of love between them was more than he could ever dream of! He had to do this; he wanted to get married to her! He motioned for her to stand just like the woman in the slide and Jane could feel her legs shake as he got down on one knee in the middle of their nest.

"Jane," he took her trembling hands in his, "Will you – Jane what's wrong? Why are you crying? Please don't be sad."

"I'm not sad!" Jane managed to say as the tears streamed down her cheeks, "I am SO happy, the most happiest I have ever been! Women cry sometimes when they are very happy!" Tarzan beamed, Jane's emotions were so baffling to him but somehow it made him love her all the more.

"Jane will you marry me?" he asked her and Jane continued to weep with pure happiness.

"Yes!' she cried ecstatically, "Of course I will!" She dropped to her knees and tenderly cupped his face with her hands. The thought of being his wife was what she always wanted even when she felt that she had no other choice but to go back to London. Tarzan pulled her in, his lips passionately caressing hers, revelling in the taste of her fruit scented lips mixed with her salty tears.

"I like the sound of that," he said as they were curled up in the nest together. Jane had being explaining on what happened at an English wedding, the white dress, the flowers, exchanging of the rings, the cake and the party afterwards to celebrate, "When do you think we can have it?"

"In a few days," Jane smiled dreamily, "I cannot wait."

"Me too, I love you."

"I love you too." They shared a slow, tender kiss before going to sleep. Tarzan wrapped his strong arms tightly around her and nuzzled his face into the crook of her neck. Jane never felt so safe and loved in her life as the heat of his muscular body warmed hers. She couldn't wait to get started on planning the wedding and couldn't wait on becoming her true love's wife.