Sightseeing

Marissa had Thursday off work. She'd finished the shoot with Karl on Wednesday and she had a catwalk job on Friday, but today was all theirs. They had plans to meet up with her friends to go out on the town tonight but it still meant that she could spend the whole day with Ryan. She couldn't wait.

Ryan had hoped that they would spend the day in bed but Marissa had other ideas. She wanted to show Ryan some of Paris; a city that she'd grow to love over the last few years. And so she dragged Ryan out of bed early … well not too early … but too early by Ryan's standards; informing him that it was time for his education to begin. Ryan quickly informed her that he felt he needed more education on bedroom activities but Marissa assured him that he had already topped the class in that subject and teased him that if it would make it easier to endure then he could consider their day as recognisance for other possible places besides the bedroom for their activities to take place. After this suggestion, Ryan had to concede that her idea held some appeal; even though he knew that he had no chance of getting her to partake in a public place. The idea certainly was attractive but they both knew that they were too publicly recognizable for it to ever happen. Still they enjoyed pretending that it was a possibility.

Marissa had decided that they would spend the day on a hop on hop off bus tour of Paris. After a hasty breakfast, they managed to sneak out the back of her apartment block, running down the alley passed all the rubbish bins and in to the side street and then on to the bus thus managing to avoid the paparazzi who they figured would have been camped out the front of the building … probably expecting a limo or at least a cab, to arrive for them.

Ryan had to admit that even though he had been reluctant at first, and would have been happy to spend the whole day in bed with Marissa, he was actually happy that she had made him do it. It was a perfect blue sky day and the open top double Decker bus was the ideal way to see the sights. What was even better was the fact that because it was still quite early, there were very few people on the bus and so the top deck, while breezy, was also empty. That meant that they could make out at whim. Just as all couples on their honeymoon should. After being pestered by the paparazzi the day before they both relished the chance to spend time together in public without a camera in their faces. They both knew that it was still possible that some lucky reporter might spot them but they had made sure that they had dressed like any other holidaying tourists. Jeans, t-shirts, caps and sunglasses ... Hopefully they would blend in with the crowd. And if not, then they would live with the consequences. They refused to live behind closed doors just to escape the watchful eyes.

First they stopped at Notre-Dame Cathedral and Ryan was fascinated. He could have stayed there for hours but Marissa kept him on the move telling him that they could always come back on the weekend but that today she just wanted to show him around. Plus the fact that the gargoyles gave her the creeps … in truth she couldn't get out of their fast enough. Next they went to Montmatre and looked around Sacre Couer and they then had an early lunch in one of the small café's near the park where all the artists hung out. Ryan wanted Marissa to pose for a portrait but she insisted that they didn't have enough time today. She had too many things that she still wanted to show him. Then they took in the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs-Elysses and spent a couple of hours wandering around the Louvre. Ryan would have stayed longer but Marissa was urging him on yet again, telling him that he could come back tomorrow while she was at work; so they hopped back on the bus and then Marissa made them get off in front of the Eiffel Tower.

Ryan stood on the forecourt and gazed up at the metal structure before him. He was amazed that it was over 100 years old. He had seen it several times throughout the day as they had made their way around Paris. It seemed that it was always somewhere on the landscape as if it was watching over the city. As Ryan stood taking it all in, in awe, Marissa grabbed his hand and started to pull him towards the bottom of the structure.

"Whoa. What are you doing?" he asked.

"We're going to the top. You have to see the view of Paris from up there." She said.

"I'll take your word for it. Thanks. But I'll just wait here for you." Ryan replied.

"Uh uh" Marissa shook her head. "We're going to the top."

"Ris. It's like a thousand feet tall and made of little bits of metal and a few rivets. Plus the fact that it's so old, it's probably all starting to rust and fall apart. You don't think for a minute that I'm going up there." He could feel his heart start to race just at the very idea of it. "I may have improved a little when it comes to planes but there is no way that I am going up there. I can almost see it swaying in the breeze." Ryan said half smiling but panic stricken just the same.

"Ryan. You can do this. WE can do this. You won't be alone." She assured him gripping his hand tightly.

"That just means that we both die together. I was sort of hoping for a long and happy life with you. Not death on our honeymoon." He said and Marissa started to waver. She could see that he was really anxious, so she decided to take another tack. She was sure that he would be fine if she could just get him up there. "I guess if you really don't want to then …. But that means that you won't get your surprise." She said; her voice full of regret.

Ryan looked at her wondering what she was getting at. "What surprise?"

"The one that's waiting for you at the top of the Eiffel tower." She replied and shrugged. "But if you don't want it then I can't make you."

"What sort of surprise?" he asked again.

"If I told you then it wouldn't be a surprise now would it?"

'Guess not. But I really don't think that I can." Ryan said as he kept looking at the structure. He was scared to death.

"Sure you can. I'll be with you all the way." Marissa replied and she held out her hand to him.

Ryan looked at her hand and then back at the tower behind her and then looked at Marissa. She seemed so strong, like nothing could stop them and he knew that he had to do this. He placed his hand in hers. "You'd better be right. If I die up there, then I'm coming back to get you."

"I won't let anything happen to you. You're too important to me." she assured him.

---

The trip to the top was not without incident. Ryan became noticeably nervous as the lift ascended. His top lip started to bead with moisture and his face lost some colour as he seemed to grow paler with each passing minute. Marissa leaned in to him wanting to offer her reassurance and she could feel his heart pounding in his chest. She began to wonder if perhaps she'd asked too much of him. She could tell that he was petrified. When the lift stopped and the doors opened it was obvious that he didn't want to get out but Marissa pulled him behind her and over to a viewing platform … making sure not to get too close to the edge. "Just look out at the view towards the horizon. Don't look down." She suggested.

Ryan held on to her, his eyes closed, not wanting to look at all.

Marissa noticed. "If I give you your surprise, will you open your eyes?"

Ryan gulped. He was having trouble trying to keep the nausea at bay. He didn't think that he could open his eyes but he didn't know how to tell her.

Marissa noticed the state he was in. His eyes still firmly closed and she leaned in and softly kissed him, gently stroking his lips with her tongue. Pulling back to see his eyes fly open, she leant back in again. This time the kiss was longer … her tongue slipping between his lips to taste him. By now, Ryan had gotten over the initial shock and was leaning in to her to kiss back. Not wanting to think about where he was … just concentrating on what he was doing. He couldn't help but think back to a certain Ferris wheel many years ago, where she had done something similar. It seemed as if it was always her answer to getting him over his fear of heights. As Ryan released her hand so that he could pull her closer to him, deepening the kiss, she pulled back and chuckled softly. "You are so predictable."

He smiled. "So are you. I should have realised what my surprise would be. It's the same way you always distract me."

"Well it works." Marissa explained. "Complaining?" she asked.

"Never." Ryan replied and kissed her again.

Marissa pulled back. "There's plenty more of those where they came from but I just need you to take a look." She said and moved him a little closer to the edge.

"I'd rather look at you. Ryan said still concentrating on her face before him and then quickly turned to glance out at the surrounding view." It was breathtaking. He had thought that he would glance at it briefly and then they could get back in the lift and return to the ground but the view before him was astounding. Ryan was in complete awe as he started to notice places that they had been to that day. "It's amazing." He said.

"I told you." Marissa commented. "I knew that you would like it." She smiled.

"I love it." Ryan replied now moving around a little to get a better look. He still hadn't looked straight down and he had no intention of doing so but he wasn't in quite such a hurry to leave anymore. He turned back and looked at Marissa who was smiling as she watched him. "And I love you."

"I love you too." She returned simply.

Ryan pulled her into his arms and held her to him. Her back to him and his chin resting on her shoulder as they both gazed out at the surrounding vista. "As long as you are beside me, I think I could do anything."

"Well I'm not going anywhere." She replied as she snuggled in to him and they stood and watched as the sun began to set over Paris.

A/N Okay so I know that was a bit fluffy but there's some speed bumps ahead so I thought they could use some 'nice time.'