Chapter 4

"We're we going?" Fi asked Colin.

He gave her a mischievous grin, "It's a surprise." He took her hand and led her through the entrance of the B&B and out into the crisp, chilly night.

A few minutes later Colin looked over at her, "Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?"

Fi blushed, slightly, "Thank you."

Colin's smile broadened into a grin, "We're almost there."

Fi's expression was puzzled and thoughtful.

Colin led her into a park (the same park that Carey had sat in and watched the kids in not twenty minutes before). The stars were just coming out as he led her through the park and to a tree just behind a swing set.

A red and white gingham-checked blanket was on the ground and a fairly large brown wicker picnic basket sat neatly in the middle.

Fi's face lit up. "A picnic!" she giggled gleefully.

"I thought you might like it." said Colin, helping her to sit. "I don't know about you," he continued, "but I'm starving. Shall we eat?"

Fi's stomach growled loudly, informing both she and Colin that she had skipped lunch.

"I'll take that as a yes." He said and he began unpacking the picnic basket.

"I didn't know what you liked, so I brought a little of everything."

It was an impressive spread. There were cold cuts of every kind, three different kinds of bread, raw leaf spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, cheeses and all sorts of condiments with which to adorn their respective sandwiches. There was potato salad, tuna salad, chicken salad, and seafood salad and good old fashioned potato chips for sides. Fresh fruit and cream cheese for dessert and Colin had even packed sparkling grape juice and flutes.

Colin looked up at Fi after unpacking, "Please don't tell me you're a vegetarian, vegan or something like that… 'Cause I'm not sure I packed for that particular circumstance."

Fi laughed, "No, I'm a good old regular carnivore! This all looks delicious!"

"Mom!" Jack yelled at the door, "are you in there?"

A few seconds of silence followed his exclamation, then, he heard shuffling in the room beyond and a moment later the lock was pulled and his mother opened the door. "Jack?" Molly asked, she'd clearly been asleep, "What is it, honey?"

"I need to talk to Fi."

Molly was too tired to find Jack's request weird (which it was).

"Well, she's not here, honey."

"Well, where is she? This is really important!"

"She's on a date." Molly stifled a yawn. "What time is it?"

"9:30."

"She should be home by 10, come back then, but quietly, please, I'm beat."

"Ok." Jack paused, "Wait! Fi's on a date? With who? How long ago?"

Molly sighed, "She's with the owners' son, she left at 6 and she said she'd be home by 10. And, Jack, before you go on your big brother high horse, I met him and said it was alright, I initially told her 11:30, she thought 10 was more acceptable since she'd just met Colin. Your sister can take care of herself. I'm going back to bed; try not to wake Ned and Irene while you're pacing out here waiting for her to come back." With that Molly closed the door and left Jack to his thoughts.

Fi and Colin were having a wonderful time at the park. They were laughing and talking, just getting to know each other.

If she'd been asked just at that moment, Fi would have said that she felt like she'd known Colin all her life, longer, if that were possible. He was easygoing and had laugh that was infectious.

"So, what's it like to live on a tour bus with 6 other people? Not much privacy, I'd expect."

"It's actually not that bad. I have my own room on the bus, and most of the time I get my own room at whatever hotel, B&B, or inn that we're staying at. Clu and Carey are my best friends and I get along with everyone, except for Jack."

"Why don't you and Jack get along?"

"If you could answer that question, my friend, I think you'd have the answer to the meaning of life!" Fi said seriously.

"I already know that answer, Fi." Colin said softly.

Fi tilted her head at him curiously, "You do?" This sounded like the setup to a line.

"It's 42!" Colin broke into a fit of laughter.

"I think that you're the only other person my age I've met that has actually heard of Douglas Adams!" she exclaimed and joined in with his laughter.

After a few breathless moments their laughter died down, and Fi gazed up at the star studded sky.

"It's so beautiful out here." She said quietly.

Colin nodded, glancing down at her. "I love it out here at night, I feel like I can see eternity."

Fi felt his eyes on her and brought her gaze down o meet his. She felt as if the ground had disappeared from beneath them and time had frozen. Her lips parted slightly and he leaned in closer. A few seconds later—though it felt like forever—their lips met.

The kiss lasted a full 2 and ½ minutes before they broke apart. Fi smiled shyly at him and he grinned back.

"What time is it?" Fi asked, she'd completely forgotten her watch in her dilemma over what to wear.

Colin glanced briefly at his wristwatch. "About 9:45. What time do you have to be back?"

"I told my Mom that I'd be back at 10. We should probably get going."

He nodded and began repacking the picnic basket.

Fi helped him. When they were done Colin helped her to her feet and offered his arm as they began to walk back to the B&B.

A.N. I bet you thought I'd died! Well, nope, but I did finally have a breakthrough on my writer's block for this storey and I also found some time to update it! Yay! Anyway, I don't know when the next update for this fic will be, please try to be patient and I will try to get it up sooner!