Murph held his forehead as he continued to work on his report. He had spent most the past few days taking notes during Union conferences and reading all the Union regulations in a few of the textbooks Professor Hastings had given to him. All this studying was really wearing him out. And he thought being in the field was tough work.

Aria entered the base, carrying a medium-sized package.

Murph smiled weakly.

"Hey, Aria."

"Hi, Murph," she said curtly. "Professor Hastings said to deliver this package to you. Said it was something about Union policies, travel and time management."

"Probably more books," Murph muttered as he took the package from her and placed it on the desk beside his other textbooks.

Aria sighed and sat down on the table.

"These last few days have just been the worst. Lind is the most frustrating Area Leader. He's acting like this is his permanent job and not just some temporary fill-in until Joel comes back. I hope Leader comes back soon because I don't know how much more of Lind I can take. 'You're not doing enough! You're gonna do more than deliver packages while I'm around'. Like, who the hell does he think he is? He needs to remove that stick from his ass and get off his high Horsea and start treating me like an equal. Can you believe he actually had me down in Waterworks today? Waterworks! Ugh. I do not get paid enough to deal with his condescending ass."

Aria took out a lighter from her pack and lit the cigarette she was holding in her hand.

Murph frowned.

"Aria, I thought you were trying to stop that?"

"I smoke when I'm stressed out. You know that."

"But it's not healthy. There are serious repercussions for doing it. I told you what smoking did to my mom."

"I'm not gonna get cancer, Murph. I'm not a chain smoker. I just need something to take the edge off before I return back to Fall City and deal with His Royal Snideness."

"What about your gum? Where's your gum? I bought you some just last week."

"I chewed it all," she said flatly. "Look Murph, I'm already stressed enough as it is. I don't need you giving me flap either."

"I'm just trying to look out for you. Smoking's no joke."

"Yeah, well I can look after myself." She hopped off of the table. "I gotta get back to the base before Mr. Excitable pages me again. Don't wanna ruffle his feathers anymore than I already have."

She drew on her cigarette once more and puffed out a small cloud of smoke.

"Ooh, and before I forget, Professor Hastings says he need you to stop by the lab when you're done here. Says he's got some more tapes for you to listen to."

"Great," he muttered.

Aria's eyes hardened slightly.

"Excuse me. Watch the attitude."

Murph sighed. "Sorry. It's just this PR stuff's really got me frazzled."

"Be happy the Professor's giving you a promotion. Least you'll be doing more than being hogtied in here all day going through the stock. This is a real good chance for you to prove yourself."

"I guess…"

Aria's styler started vibrating. She gave an irritated sigh and silenced it.

"Shouldn't you take the call? What if it's important?"

"If Lind's calling me, it's not an emergency. He only has me doing the drudgework. I'll be getting an earful when I get back anyway whether I answer the call or not. He's probably gonna say I went one minute over my lunch break. Mr. Control freak."

Aria took another drag on her cigarette and held it the puff in her mouth a little while before blowing it out.

"I'll see you when I get off, alright?"

"Yeah…okay…" he replied quietly.

Turning around, Aria exited the base, flicking her cigarette to the side moments later.

Murph again sighed. He got up from his seat and walked over to Spenser's work desk. Opening a cabinet behind the desk, he pulled out a can of air freshener and sprayed the area before going back to his desk and continuing on his report.

Slowking shook his head in dissatisfaction.


Solana took the cold pack out of the freezer and broke the refrigerant gel inside. Then she kneaded the pouch to spread the contents of the ruptured inner fluid pouch and shook it hard so it could mix well.

Their uniforms were dirty from an earlier mission that morning and they didn't have any spares left at the base. Since they did have an hour before they had to return back, they decided to go ahead and wash their clothes while they enjoyed the little bit of down time they had.

Satisfied that the coolness spread all over the pouch, she wrapped it in a thin cloth and carried it out to the living room to Lunick

"Got your cold compress ready, Lunick."

Sitting up on her sofa, Lunick took the ice pack from her and rested it on his wrist.

"Thanks, Babe. Really appreciate it."

"Has the swelling gone down at all?"

"A little. Seems to be a grade II sprain. Some of the fibres of the ligaments may be torn but at least the bone isn't avulsed and I don't need surgical intervention for it to heal."

Solana sat down beside him.

"Maybe you should be a little more careful when releasing the grapple hook from the super suit? It's used to secure the line for mounting, not as a force to propel you downwards."

"Well, I find a lot of creative uses for things. How's your head?"

"Better. Took some ibuprofen earlier and that seems to be helping."

"Good."

Solana frowned slightly when she saw what Lunick was watching in TV.

"Pocket Monsters? Really?"

"It's a classic."

"What are you, five? How can you enjoy this mindless, heavy-handed, ham-fisted attempt at comedy?"

Lunick gasped.

"Such blasphemy! Pocket Monsters is a brilliant masterpiece of satire full of gags, witticism, facetiousness and camaraderie. It is a priceless work of art."

Solana rolled her eyes.

"Oh, please. They try to pass this crude crass animated farce as children's entertainment. That character Pippi is so vulgar and sick, I can't believe it made it passed the censors."

"Pippi is a sarcastic narcissist. His off-color sense of humor and loudmouthed persona are what make the character so endearing. You can't help but be pulled into his mischief. He's a great counterpart to the well-mannered Pikachu as well. Oooo! Pocket Monsters PiPiPi * Adventures is coming on two hours from now! Sweet!"

Solana rested her chin on her fist. "So full of childlike wonder."

Lunick started humming the theme song, tapping his hands on his thighs before doing the one dance Solana just could not stand – the Cabbage Patch.

"Booyah! A new ep!"

Solana rolled her eyes slightly, only half watching the program with him. Most of the time she spent just looking at Lunick, who was still glued to the television screen. She marveled at his slick yet slightly messy medium-length hair, a long fringe side-swept over the left side of his face and neatened up at the sides. As Lunick got older he let his Prussian blue hair grow out and added some teal highlights to compliment Solana's hair and also to honey his barnet a bit. The sleek sun-kissed finish made him look quite suave and fetching. She admired his dimples, which managed to keep his boyish charm while still showcasing the maturity of his facial features. She started mentally undressing him, pulling off his sleeveless T-Shirt and cargo shorts. She imagined running her hand over his chest, tracing the lines of indentations. A satisfied grin spread across her face as she imagined kissing him on his lips, then on his neck, then on his chest. Her smile widened when she imagined kissing him in other places and doing other things with him as well. She had told herself that she would wait. That the 'baddest' things were worth waiting for. But now, staring at him, watching him and taking in all the things she loved about it, she wasn't sure if waiting to do those things were necessarily what she wanted.

There he was, watching his silly subliminal cartoon. With her he let his guard down. He didn't care if it was viewed as uncool to watch them. He was full of childlike joy and she learned there could never be too much of that.

"No way!" Lunick shouted and he stood up from the couch and pumped his fist. "Another new episode?! Aw, sweet! So cool! It's not only a marathon, it's a premiere!"

"Alright, mister cartoon nostalgia enthusiast. Go on and click on over to the TV Guide channel while it's on commercial."

Lunick flipped a couple channels over. "Okay?"

"Okay, it looks like your show is going to be on all the rest of tonight. Why not DVR it and watch it later when we get off. We've only got so much time left before we have to go back to work and I intend to spend it enjoying myself some more."

"Sure, 'Lana," he said as he turned off the power without any further hesitation. He sat down and turned to her expectantly.

"You're not gonna record it?"

Lunick rewrapped his wrist with an ace bandage.

"Nah. Most likely it'll be on again tomorrow. I wanna spend my time with my bon-diggity GF."

Solana smiled.

"So, do I have to guess what you wanna do or –"

She cut him off as she leaned forward and brought him in for a kiss. Moments later, she had him pinned down on her sofa, kissing him hard. Lunick lost himself in the moment, enjoying the kiss immensely. He felt her body molding into his, more surface area coming into direct contact with each other. Only problem was this sort of contact usually yielded an involuntary response, one that Solana couldn't help but notice.

Lowering her hands from around his neck, Solana started pulling off Lunick's shirt. In no time she had it off of him and onto the floor. Lunick rose up and pushed her back down. He returned the favor, unbuttoning her pink blouse and pulling it down her shoulders, dropping it beside them on the floor. His hands glided over her legs as he kissed her gently on her neck, planting a few quick kisses before reconnecting his lips with hers. His hands drifted down and cupped her backside as they continued to kiss each other fiercely.

Lunick then realized that it wasn't her usual cotton panties he was feeling. He broke the kiss and sat up.

"What's wrong?" Solana breathed out.

Lunick scrunched up his face in confusion.

"Uh…I dunno. Somehow this doesn't feel the same."

Smiling coyly, Solana lifted her skirt up just enough that Lunick could see what she was wearing.

Lunick's eyes went wide when he saw that Solana was wearing light pink lace underwear. There was a blue bow on the front.

Lunick slowly recoiled his hands. He was actually touching her bare skin.

"Uhhhh…" he uttered nervously.

Solana took his hands and placed them back on her hips.

"You like?"

Lunick still stared in shock at the semi see-through lingerie.

"I…You…When did you?…" He stammered as his hormonally charged brain tried desperately to process what was happening.

Solana's smile widened. "They're for you. Just for you."

His overloaded synapses barely registered what she was saying. Solana took his hands and placed them back on her derrière. Lunick's eyes finally shifted back up to Solana's eyes but his mouth still hung opened. His brain still had trouble processing exactly what was happening.

Solana then placed her hands behind his head and brought him down for a kiss. She felt Lunick's body shudder and she inched her fingers into his cargo shorts, pulling them down slightly.

Lunick suddenly jumped off of her.

"Ah! Wha?…What?!…Huh?!" He grasped at his head and started pacing the room.

Solana sat up. "Lunick, what's wrong?"

Lunick couldn't keep still. He continued to move about the room in a panic.

"I…What…What is happening? What are we doing?! Am I dreaming?"

"No, you're not dreaming."

Solana quickly got off her sofa and ran to Lunick's side. She placed her hands firmly on his shoulders.

"Lunick, look at me."

Lunick turned back to face her, then he yelped and closed his eyes shut.

"Ah! You're not wearing a shirt! Put back on your shirt!"

"Lunick, you just took off my shirt. You've seen me shirtless before."

"No, you're wearing lingerie. It's wrong! I can't…I shouldn't!"

Solana grabbed his face and pulled him towards her.

"Lunick, look at me."

Lunick still refused to open his eyes.

"Baby, look at me."

Hesitantly, Lunick opened his eyes. He saw Solana's ruby eyes staring directly into his.

"Calm down." She said smoothly. "Take a deep breath, and calm down."

Lunick took a deep breath. Then he took two more. He reopened his eyes and still saw Solana staring at him. She took his hands from over his ears and held them in her hands.

Lunick finally allowed himself to look back down at Solana. She was still wearing the bright turquoise bra and her yellow skirt, though it hung loosely on her hips.

Lunick closed his eyes again and screamed, startling Solana.

"Lunick, what is wrong with you?"

"What's wrong with me? What's wrong with you?!" he cried. "Solana, this so isn't like you!"

"I'm not ashamed in front of you, Lunick."

"Ashamed? This isn't about shame! This is about integrity! What's going on with you? Why are you behaving this way? This isn't you. This isn't you at all!"

Plusle and Minun ran in through Solana's pet door and into the living room. They could hear Lunick screaming from outside and grew concerned.

He risked opening his eyes and looking at her, sensing that she wasn't going to start undressing again.

"You've always been the sweetest, most innocent and self-respected girl I've ever known. But these last couple of weeks it's felt like you're constantly trying to seduce me. I always thought I'd be the one with my tongue wagging and that you'd have to be the one to constantly keep me at bay. But it seems to me that if I said the word, we'd be under the sheets inside of two seconds. I hate to say it, but you're becoming a different person to me. And that scares the hell out of me! This is not the girl I fell in love with."

Solana crinkled her brow. "What are you saying, Lunick?"

"I'm saying you're not acting like yourself. This hypersexual side of you, I've never seen before. Being sexy is one thing, but you're behaving in an almost perverted way. I thought being in love was something totally different from just rushing to see how fast we can have sex. It's more than just romance, it's about caring deeply for another person. You're acting like Anya, and all those other horny fast girls who chase after guys. You're acting like…like…"

"Like what?"

"Like a slut! You're acting all slutty. You're not the sweet, self-respecting girl I've worked with for the past seven years."

Solana eyes were wide with disbelief. Tightening her jaw, she walked away from him and snatched her blouse off of the floor, covering herself with it.

Lunick instantly regretted what he said.

"Solana –"

"Get out…" she squeaked, not facing him.

"Solana, I didn't mean –"

Solana spun around fast and pointed to her front door.

"GET THE HELL OUT!" She screamed. She grabbed several pillows from her sofa and threw them at him. "Get out! Get out, get out, get out! GET THE HELL OUT MY HOUSE!"

Shielding himself from the barrage of pillows, Lunick grabbed his shirt and ran out the door, all feeling rushing out of him.

"Mai Mai!" his pokémon yelled as he chased after him.

Plusle stood there in complete shock. She looked up to her human.

Solana didn't even go to close the door. Seething, she plopped down on her sofa and crushed the pillow she was holding to her chest, the tears streaming down her face and burning her eyes.


"I can't believe I let you talk me into coming here," Solana grumbled, her knees pulled up to her chest. She was dressed back in her Ringtown Ranger uniform. She had ridden to the lake with Leilani under protest, wanting to wallow in her sorrow at home. The only reason she agreed to come at all was because she knew she had to get back to work and wanted to avoid all the uncomfortable questions from Spenser about why she didn't come in today.

"Well for one thing, you still haven't told me what this fight of yours was about?" Leilani said as she sat beside her friend. She was really worried about her. Solana was capable of some strong emotions but she was never one to cry, at least not to this extent.

"What else is there to say? I somehow actually managed to chase away the best thing that has ever happened to me."

"Whoa, there. Back up. I thought you two just had a little spat. What's this 'chasing him away' thing?"

When Solana didn't answer, Leilani got suspicious.

"Girl, what did you do? Spill!"

"Go ahead. Rub it in with an 'I told you so'. I deserve it."

"Solana, I don't want to rub anything in. I just wanna know what happened. You didn't…?"

When Leilani saw the sad, disappointed look in her friend's eyes, she knew she got her answer.

"Solana, I thought we agreed you were going to talk to him first?"

"I tried. I just couldn't think of the right time."

"How about before stripping down into your undies?"

Solana sighed. "I just wanted to make him happy, Leilani. Do the kind of things that make guys happy. Show him how much he means to me. I made up my mind I was ready take our relationship to another level. I was ready to make love to Lunick tonight."

"It's not tonight yet, Solana. What happened, what did you do?"

"I didn't get a chance to do anything. We were just making out like we usually do. When Lunick asked why it felt different this time, I showed him the lace underwear I was wearing. The one you bought me. And he started freaking out and said some terrible awful things about me."

"Lunick Kaneko saying terrible awful things…to you? I can't believe it. Are you sure that's what happened or was it his mouth getting ahead of his mind?"

"Leilani, he called me slut and said I was behaving like Anya."

Leilani was silent for a moment. "Dayum! Are we talking about the same Lunick here?"

"Yes, he actually said that to me."

"The same Lunick who completely freaked out at the thought of you wanting to kiss him a few months before you got together? The same Lunick who's been trying so hard to make sure he wasn't going too far with you even when you first started dating? The same Lunick who nurses you back to health time and time again whenever you get sick and insists that you two sleep in separate beds whenever one of you spends the night to avoid any and all hanky-panky? I never would have thought the same guy would freak out again just because you want to jump his bones."

"How can you be taking his side on this?"

"Who said I was? Maybe I need to go find him and lay a serious smack-down on him for you. How dare he say that kind of thing to a nice girl like you, making it seem like you're nothing but a loose hussy. You are the paragon of womanly virtue, the sweet girl-next-door that every young man desires. How dare he?"

Solana's glare could cut through steel.

"See, no wonder he's freaked. The Solana he fell in love with, the one's he's pined for isn't some sex-Glameow. She was a sweet, innocent self-respecting girl who hardly kissed anyone, and only ever kissed a boy for real when she realized how much she was in love with him. And she was quick to put anyone in their place who dared to challenge her otherwise. Now you've gone from that to wanting to strip down and get into bed with him? He's not the only one who's freaked. Have you taken a look in the mirror lately?"

Solana looked away from Leilani and stared at the soft ripples in the pond.

"Tell me, Solana, in his exact words, did he call you a slut? Or did he say you were acting slutty?"

"What's the difference? He still called me a slut and he said I was like Anya. If he saw Aria for who she truly was, he'd likely to have call me her too."

"The difference is calling you a slut means he believes you are sleeping with a bunch of guys. It's a cruel, nasty insult, and if he said that then he deserves a beat-down as much as you do. Now what did he say?"

Solana paused before answering. "He said I was acting like a slut. That I was acting all slutty."

Leilani nodded, her point starting to sink in to her friend. "Okay. Points off for Lunick for picking a nasty way of saying it, but he was being honest with you, which is a lot more than I can say you were being with him. You were scaring the crap out of him, not just because he's not used to getting that kind of attention, but because he didn't recognize you anymore. Why did you want to have sex with him? Why are you craving this so badly?"

"Making love, Leilani."

"Don't sugarcoat it. Doesn't matter what you call it, it's still sex. Why do you want to do it so badly? Is it because you love him and want to show him?"

"Yes."

"Is it because he's such a hot sexy stud and you want him so bad you can't take it?"

She took a few moments to answer. "Yes."

"Well there you go. That's it."

"What's it?"

"You want to seal the deal. You want to prove your love to him."

"But I do want him, Leilani. I've told you that."

"You did. And I believe you. Sure you do. Of course you do. But that's not why you're behaving this way. You're just as confused as he is. You've been telling me you have no idea why you want to sleep with Lunick so badly. But the more I think about it, the clearer it is to me. You want to prove yourself to Lunick. That you want him and only him. You see the great lengths that Lunick goes to to prove himself to you, the grandiose display of his love, from the gigantic, romantic picnic where he gave you that Luvdisc and Alomomola ring when he asked you to be his girlfriend, to the promise necklaces with your freaking birthstones on a beautiful moonlit night when he declared that he was one step from proposing to you but didn't have the funds. Do you see where I'm getting at? I mean Lunick's a goofball, but he is a slammin' romantic and everything he does carries a whole boatload of sentimental meaning. You're trying to match his ambition by proving to him that you love him just as much if not more by giving him your precious gift. Your delicate flower. I know you love him, Solana, I do. But Lunick isn't that kind of guy, and you know it. You're scaring him. That is why I said to talk to him. If Lunick doesn't know what's going on, how is he going to want to have any part in it? Talk-to-him. Who knows? Maybe he wants to have sex just as badly as you do. But if he doesn't know what you want, and how you feel, he's not gonna jump in. He needs both his feet firmly planted on the ground before he's gonna risk doing something he may think has even the slightest chance of making you unhappy. Okay? Talk to him. I cannot stress that enough.

"Now, about this Anya cut? Forget it. It's a cheap shot but it's nothing but air. He was stressing and didn't know what was going on so he pulled out the closest thing he could think of to describe your behavior. Had he been in control of his thought processes he would not have said that, especially considering he knows what Freddie and Anya have gone through in their relationship. He knows why Anya became that way and he knows Freddie doesn't feel the same way. So, forget it. It doesn't mean anything. You just focus on trying to get Mr. Right back."

Solana held knees close to her chest and rested her head on her knee caps.

"I don't think he'll want to see me again after this fiasco."

"Oh, I'm sure he does," Leilani said as she typed a message on her styler. "I know he does."


"You did what?" Freddie asked dubiously as he watched his friend incredulously. He had taken the afternoon off to take Niema to the dentist, but he was surprised to see Lunick arrive just when he was about to clock out. Lunick had remained silent throughout most of the day, letting Freddie tend to his daughter but now that they were back home, he had some questions about this supposed blowout that happened between him and Solana. Especially since he seemed numb the entire time he was with him. Lunick was ordinarily a cheery guy. Seeing his sullen demeanor was a more than unsettling.

"I messed up, man." Lunick said dejectedly, "I lost the girl of my dreams."

"What happened?"

"It all started out fine. Solana and I were messing around like we usually do. Then she showed me the lingerie she was wearing underneath her clothes…And I totally lost it. I completely freaked. And I called her some awful things."

"Wait, you mean Solana wanted to sleep with you?"

"I think so. I don't really know what was going on. It all happened so fast. One minute we're hanging out watching TV, the next Solana's in nothin' but lacey underwear."

"And you didn't want to have sex? That's what the fight was about?"

"I don't know what I wanted. I just know my girlfriend went from innocent Skitty to seductive Liepard in two seconds and I didn't know how to handle it. I was stupid. I called her some awful things."

"What did you say?"

Lunick closed his eyes and paused before responding, as if recalling what he said was too painful to repeat.

"I told her she was acting like a slut…That she was behaving like…Anya…"

Freddie was silent, then he slammed his hands on the table.

"You did what?! Are you a complete idiot?"

"I didn't mean to bring Anya up. I wasn't thinking straight. Solana was practically naked in front of me. I didn't know what was going on."

"Man, I'm not talking about Anya. I'm talking about you calling Solana a slut. Or telling her she was acting like one. There are three things you never call a woman. You don't call her a bitch, you don't call her a slut, and you don't call her crazy. Why the hell would you say something like to Solana? She's is nothing like Anya."

"I know. I'm a jerk. I'm a hapless, stupid buffoon and Solana deserves way better than me."

Freddie was silent for a while trying to figure out the best way to approach his friend so it didn't sound like he was attacking him for what he said.

Lunick sniffled. "I screwed up, man. Solana's never gonna wanna talk to me ever again."

Freddie sat back down at his table.

"Give Solana some credit. She's not a one-and-done kind of girl."

"You didn't see the anger and hurt in her eyes when I left. I'm pretty sure she's done with me."

"So, you're saying you two broke up?"

"…I guess so…"

"Okay. Let's back up a bit and talk this through. The things you said to Solana, were they things you said with the intention to hurt her?"

Lunick's head snapped up as his eyes met with Freddie's.

"What, of course not! I would never say anything to upset or hurt Solana."

"Were the things you said the truth?"

"Well…I guess…in a way. But I shouldn't have –"

"Then it needed to be said. I admit, it was a very poor choice of words on your part. But still, what you said was your truth. She was making you uncomfortable. She was scaring you. That's not something to just sweep under the rug, or say you're a punk because you don't think you're ready to comply with such a big request. Honesty is the first foundation of a relationship. You had to tell her how you felt in that moment, even if it may not have been what she wanted to hear. But you know what I don't hear that either of you said? Neither one of you said 'it's over'. Neither one of you said 'I'm breaking up with you'. You guys had a fight, yes, but I think it's one the two of you had to have. You both were gonna have to talk about sex eventually and maybe this fight was the catalyst to start you guys down that serious conversation. I'm not gonna say Solana was wrong to want to have sex, the same way I'm not gonna say it's wrong for you not to feel ready to have sex. That's between the two of you and what you both need and want. It also proves that both of you are just as confused and scared as the other and that you're treading unknown waters for the first time in your relationship. Both of you are good, moral people. You've shared a life that is nothing short of intense and you've remained best friends through all of that and a powerhouse couple. Stuff like that changes us."

Lunick's eyes lowered and he sighed. "I just didn't think we'd have to have that conversation. I thought we were both on the same page. And I didn't think I'd have to ask for advice about it."

"Well, you were wrong. And it's okay, Lunick. Just remember that no matter how strong you are, no matter how strong Solana is, there is nothing wrong with asking for help. There's nothing wrong with needing help. We weren't meant to go through life alone. You've got friends like me, Percy, Murph, Leilani, even our Area Leaders and your parents. Even Minun. We're all here to help you. Don't ever forget that, and don't discount what we can do for you. You know that better than anybody. And you've said the very same thing to me."

Minun rubbed Lunick on the leg, trying to console his human.

Lunick looked at him and picked him up, putting him in his lap and petting him on the head.

"Thanks, buddy."

"Mai Mai!"

Freddie took out his styler and started typing.

"You know what I'm gonna say, right Lunick? You're gonna have to face her."

Lunick frowned and sighed again. "I don't think Solana wants to see me at all today."

"I'm not sure that's the case." Freddie said as he put his styler down. "But there's only one way to find out?"

Standing up, Freddie took his jacket off of the back of the chair and put it on.

"Niema, put on your shoes, honey. We're going to the park." He called.

In no time, little footfalls could be heard coming down the steps in Freddie's house at fast speeds.

"Yayyy! I get tah go to da park!"

She struggled to put on her Mary Janes as she raced to the front door.

"Come on, Daddy! Come on!"

Stepping on the heels of her shoes, she grabbed her frilly jean jacket and ran outside.

Chuckling, Freddie took his keys from the key hook in the kitchen and rested a hand on Lunick's shoulder.

"Come on, man. Let's go get your lady back."


"Leilani, I've got to get back to work. Spenser's gonna get suspicious if I don't show up, I've been gone for four hours."

"Not until you get this thing resolved with Lunick."

"Leil, I don't know if he's ever going to want to talk to me ever again."

"Don't speak too soon, girl, 'cause I see someone matching his hairdo in his uniform coming this way right now."

Leilani nodded to the approaching teenagers.

Standing up, Leilani met the two boys. Solana remained seated on the grass, not wanting to face him.

"Thanks for coming, Freddie."

"No problem. I wasn't just gonna sit around and let this one mope around all day."

Niema pulled on her father's arm. "Daddy! Swing time! Swingy swing, now!"

Freddie chuckled. "Alright. I'll catch you guys later, okay?"

"Okay. Bye."

Freddie followed his daughter to the swings on the playground further down.

Leilani turned back to Solana. "I'm gonna head back to the base, Sole. I anticipate a call from Cameron any second now and I don't want to give him an excuse to yell at me. Call me if you need to talk, okay?"

Solana nodded slowly.

Leilani turned back around to Lunick. Her eyes hardened and she poked him in the chest and whispered to him.

"If you ever say something like that to my girl again, you're gonna really feel my wrath, buster. You thought I was mad at you before? Billy and Gordor will seem like inferior pests, nothing more than schoolyard bullies when I'm through with you. Got it?"

Lunick gulped.

"Yeah. Got it, Leilani." He replied nervously as she left them alone.

Lunick looked back at Solana, who was staring back at him with the same sad, longing eyes. He walked over to where she was sitting and sat down beside her, one leg propped up and the other underneath so he could face her. Plusle and Minun had left them as well to give them some much needed privacy.

A few moments of silence passed between them.

"I'm sorry," they said simultaneously.

"Solana."

"Lunick."

They both paused again, not wanting to talk over the other.

Chancing that she wasn't going to end up talking over her again, Lunick began.

"Solana, I'm so, so sorry for saying you were acting like a slut. I never should have said that. It was hurtful and stupid. I can't apologize enough for my mangled and inappropriate way of saying how I felt. And if I ever did anything to lead you on to make you think I was ready and wanted to have sex, I sincerely apologize."

"Lunick, no. I'm the one who should be apologizing. I never should have just sprung that on you like that. I should've talked to you before about it. I wanted to. I just…didn't know how to."

Lunick's eyes lowered for a fleeting second before meeting with Solana's eyes once again.

"Solana, why were you wearing that?"

"To be honest, I'm not really sure myself. Leilani bought it for me some time ago and I guess I just wanted to see how it would feel to wear them when I was with you."

"Wait, Leilani bought you that underwear? She wanted us to –"

"Oh, no no no no no! Leilani had nothing to do with it. It was all me. She bought me the underwear but that was really just to increase my confidence."

Solana paused before continuing.

"Why were you freaking out?" she asked calmly. "You've seen me in my underwear before?"

Lunick's chest felt tight. He swallowed hard as he tried to answer his girlfriend.

"Solana…you were wearing lingerie."

"And?"

"…I've never seen you in that before…"

"But why is it freaking you out?"

Lunick blinked several times.

"I…I don't know…I-I wasn't expecting to see that."

"The underwear?"

"The lace," he answered. "The thin fabric, the transparency. I didn't know what was going on…I wasn't prepared to see you like that. I know I've seen you in your underwear before but that…that one article of clothing has such a drastically different undertone. Solana…why did you put it on? Why did you show it to me? Be honest."

"I don't know." She quietly replied. "I just wanted to make you feel special tonight."

"I told you, you don't have to do anything for me."

"But you've done so much for me. Is it wrong that I want to show you just how much you mean to me?"

Lunick stared at her in her eyes for a long time.

"Solana, did you want to have sex?"

Solana turned back around to face him.

"Not necessarily. I just wanted to do more than we were doing before."

"What all did you want to do?"

"What do you want to do?"

"I have no idea." Lunick breathed out, "I just don't want us to move too fast."

Solana crossed her legs. "What are you ready for, Lunick? Tell me what you feel that you need."

"Need? Solana, I don't need anything. I have you. So long as we're together, I don't need much of anything else."

"But you do. You have sexual wants and needs just like any other person."

"That doesn't mean I have to act on them."

"I just wanted to make you happy."

"Whatever made you think I wasn't happy? Solana, I love you just the way you are. I love us just the way we are. You don't need to do anything to make me happy or prove yourself to me? If I ever gave you that impression, I'm truly sorry."

"No, Lunick. You didn't. The truth is…I've been having a lot of thoughts about you. About us…About what it would be like if we did go all the way and didn't stop ourselves midway. Remember when I told you a couple weeks ago that you weren't the only one getting stimulated from the photo shoot? Well, Lunick, I feel like that every day. Yes, I did want to prove myself to you. But Lunick, you are also so sexy. My God…Now I know what the other girls mean when they call you man candy."

Lunick chuckled. "Man candy? Me?"

"Yes, you. Can't you see it?"

"To be honest, I just see me when I look in the mirror. I have no idea how attractive I may or may not be to other people because it doesn't really matter to me."

"Well, I'm telling you, you're sexy. You're so irresistible. It's so hard to keep myself in check. That's part of the struggle too. You're so titillating."

Lunick chuckled again. "Wow. Well, thanks, 'Lana, I appreciate it. But the truth is…it's even more difficult for me not to be reeled in by you. You talk about me, but Babe? Whistle…You're the sexy one here."

Solana scoffed. "Oh, come on."

"What, are you kidding me? Solana, you're gorgeous! You're so gorgeous, I can't say that enough. It's just objective fact. And you're sexy. Very sexy."

"Come on, Lunick. I know I'm not as…well-endowed as some of the other girls, like Leilani or Shauna."

"So?" Lunick said with a slight chuckle.

"So…I know I'm lacking in some areas."

"Solana, you are perfect just the way you are."

"But I'm not perfect."

"Exactly. I don't want some pin-up Barbie doll for a girlfriend. Contrary to what many of you girls think, guys don't put so much emphasis on your Hoot Hoots as you girls do."

"So, it doesn't bother you that I'm not…'blessed'?"

Lunick's expression softened slightly.

"Solana, what's the first thing I look at when I look at you?"

"…My butt?"

"Well…yes…But besides that. When your back is not facing me, what's the first thing I look at?"

"My eyes."

"Right. You have the most beautiful eyes. The most beautiful gorgeous face. I can stare at your face all day and never get tired. Now…that's not to say I don't appreciate your other…assets.

A slight smile spread across his face as his eyes shifted lower. His hand leaned forward slowly, making like he was reaching for her collar with his outstretched finger while he was actually aiming lower. She quickly swatted it away.

"I enjoy looking at the whole package." His hands drifted down to their familiar spot on her bum. "So, if you're concerned that you don't have the full shipment, believe me, your parcel is abounding. Your modest C-Cup is up to standards. And as far as I'm concerned, you are very 'blessed'. Maybe someday in the future I can prove to you just how much I enjoy your…endowment."

"I guess…Waaiiit…How did you know I was a C-Cup?"

"Uh, I've seen you without a shirt, Solana? Plus, you've left some of your unmentionables at my house a handful of times. The label isn't discreet."

"Mhmm," she moaned suspiciously.

"Honestly, Babe, you are the sexiest, most badical girl in the entire world. You say I'm hot but I'm not the most muscular guy out here, you know? No matter how much I exercise, I don't build that much in my current regimen."

"Lunick, you don't need to. Your muscles are well-defined the way they are and you don't need to beef yourself up. I don't want some bulky buff bodybuilder with bulging biceps."

"And I don't want some Playboy Lopunny, Jessica Rabbit Ditto. What do you want me to say? Do you know how hard it is for me, how much I have to will myself not to just take you in my arms every time I see you? I have thoughts that no honorable man should be having. But I can't help it. You may think I have an iron will but it's more like a loose thread ready to unravel at any minute. The only thing that's keeping me coolheaded is the fact that I'm not going to give you anything even a smidgeon less than absolute and complete respect. It doesn't matter how I feel in the end, your needs override mine any day."

"That's just it, Lunick. My needs shouldn't supersede yours. Your feelings and your desires are just as important as mine. If you're ready to have sex, then that's important for me to know and something important to consider."

"Solana, I can't say if I'm ready or not because the truth is I just don't know. I just don't want to disappoint you."

"Lunick, you're not disappointing me at all. I can't say if I'm ready either. It's all just fantasy and daydreams. I'm curious but I'm a little scared as well. Do you think we should wait until marriage?"

"You know, that's a good goal to strive for but I don't think we should beat ourselves up if we don't make it till then. I think we'll know when we're ready. We won't be confused or scared or apprehensive. It won't be awkward for us, it'll flow naturally. I think we'll know when we're ready for sex, I really do. When the time is right, we'll know."

Smiling weakly, Solana gave her boyfriend a soft kiss. The golden rays of the late afternoon filtered down through the canopy, giving everything a soft lustrous glow.

"This would've been a beautiful spot for our first time."

Lunick looked over at the glittering lake. "It's almost perfect."

"Almost?"

"Like I said, we'd know if it was the right time. If it was perfect, then it would be the right time."

Solana rested her head on his shoulder.

"Touché. I guess we should be heading back to the base, huh?"

"Yeah. I know Murph has a lot on his plate lately and it really wouldn't be fair to leave him at the base by himself. I am the temporary Area Leader after all until Spenser returns."

Solana pushed him down slightly and crawled on top of him.

"Think I can steal a few more minutes with the boss before having to go back to work?"

"I think he might be willing oblige."

Smiling, the two shared another tender kiss as the sun continued to set.