The hot dog was on the kitchen counter. Daphne showed Ian and Grandmother around the apartment. Daphne especially showed Ian her mom's "work room", as Libby calls it. Once Ian saw an almost original, yet much copied, 1963 'Red Special' guitar, he felt like he fell in love… again! He grabbed the guitar, plugged it into the amplifier, found a soft stool, and then started playing some riffs. Daphne sat on a chair next to him.

That brought Daphne back to the first time she heard Ian sing, it was at a coming out party for the twins Peach and Pear. Ian was there playing a gig with some band… day job. And during the party, Daphne accidentally caused their expensive, inherited chandelier to fall and break into millions of pretty glass pieces. But, heck, everyone had an awesomely, devastating time at that party!

"You haven't changed a bit!" Daphne laughed

Ian got back to reality and smiled at her. "Well, you're not too different either! Just the same old Daphne I've always known and loved." Ian and Daphne smiled silently to each other. Ian thought the moment was a bit awkward.

"How come you're so quiet, Daph?"

"Dunno." She said innocently. "It's just so great to see you again… but…" Daphne didn't finish her thought.

Ian eyed her. "But what?"

"But you're not here to stay forever with me. You're gonna have to go back. Then it's online chatting, which doesn't feel the same as like now. It's a long distance relationship we can't keep up forever. Who knows, we might even meet other people while we're apart!! What then? Our relationship is screwed!!"

Meet other people?!! What was Daphne saying? Does she like someone else in Oxford!?! Is that what she's implying?

"What, Daph? Are you saying you like or are attracted to someone else in Oxford?!" Ian asked troublingly

"WHAT??!! Ian, no! No, no, no, no, no!!!!" Daphne shook her head in major disagreement.

"Oh, umm, all righty then…" Ian went back to the 'Red Special'

Daphne bit the inside of her cheek. She does that whenever she doesn't know what to do next or when she's anxious. Ian hummed a melody of some song Daphne never heard before. Must be some popular English indie-rock band's song; Ian's listens to that kinda stuff. Daphne's always thought it's what makes him total English hotness, well that and his day jobs, his hair, his smile, and his motorcycle!! Oh yeah that motorcycle… That brought Daphne back to memories of riding on the back of Ian's motorcycle. The best was when Henry and her rode to a local park on Ian's bike. Henry only borrowed it, he and Daphne were being chased by reporters and photographers; it was after Daphne had pushed some snobby English jerk into a lake at some outdoor banquet party or whatever. When you were the long lost daughter of a major English politician, reporters and photographers were everywhere you were, watching your every move. No wonder Henry quit the political life!

"Come on, let's go to the park." Daphne grabbed Ian's arm and he got up, leaving the 'Red Special' on the stool. She started dragging him out of the room.

"Daphne, let go! I think I'm big enough to walk by myself, thank you." He teased

Daphne rolled her eyes and giggled. "Fine. Get outside the apartment door, I have to get something. Kay?"

"Kay. But what's with the random change in mood?" Ian raised an eyebrow and Daphne went straight to the kitchen. Ian just sighed and left. The hot dog was still on the counter right where she left it. Daphne then took out two Coke bottles from the fridge and placed them next to the hot dog. She found a nice, empty brown bag and placed everything in it. She walked out the door…

"Daphne, dear, where are you off to?" Grandmother asked

"Oh, Grandma, Ian and I are just going on a little stroll through the park. Where are Mom and Henry?"

"They're getting ready to go out."

"Out?"

"Yes, they're taking me to some shopping complex."

"Oh, you must mean the Victorian Shopping Center."

"Yes, yes, that's the one. Nice name, nice and authentic. Don't you agree dunkie?"

Daphne smiled. "Of course Grandma. It's authentic alright!"

--------Daphne heard Henry's faint voice coming from her parents' room. "Libby, did you clean my socks today?"-------- Daphne sucked in her smile

Daphne gave Grandmother a quick hug, and went out the door. Ian was there, of course. Daphne took his arm and they started running down the hallway.

"Whoa, whoa, slow down. I'm fragile." He said, slowing down first.

"Sorry. Just thought it was kinda fun."

"Is that what you call fun? What do you call stupid then?"

"Well aren't we obnoxious today?"

"We aren't. Only I am. I would never want you to go spoiled. Heck, you almost ended up being a debutant princess." Daphne smacked him playfully. Ian chuckled back.

They held hands again. They got outside the building. Daphne pointed in the direction of the park. They headed straight toward there.

Then about 10 minutes later, Ian and Daphne got to the park. They found a nice bench and sat.

Daphne reached into the brown bag and pulled out a Coke and handed it to Ian. "Here you go." She said sweetly. Ian took it. And Daphne got her own Coke. Ian fished in his jacket for his pocket bottle-opener. He got it, he popped his lid first (the Coke lid people) and then did Daphne's for her.

"Wait, let's make a toast." Daphne announced

Ian nodded

"Here's to, to…"

"To a new chapter in our relationship." Ian finished for her

"A new chapter? Ok, sure."

"Cheers!" They tapped their bottles together.

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(That wasn't a very sexy toast…)

-a dAphANe thought

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Daphne took out the hot dog. Ian saw it.

"Ah, the all wondrous hot dog! How it has risen again!" Ian joked

"You're so not funny!"

Ian rolled his eyes.

Daphne unwrapped the paper around the hot dog. "Look at how hot it looks!"

Ian looked and his eyebrows shot up! "Daphne, it's so COOL!"

"I know right?! That was the best hot dog vendor I've ever been to! You should see what he could do with pickles!"

'Ian and Daphne' were written in script on the hot dog. The letters had a mustard border around them. It was cool!

Daphne and Ian both took a bite out of opposite ends of the hot dog. That is so CUTE!

"Mmm, delicious. I've never had one of these before." Ian said. Mustard and ketchup were all over his mouth!

"Don't you love it?!" Daphne asked. Ketchup and mustard were on her too!

"Yes I do." Ian looked directly into Daphne's eyes romantically. Daphne looked at his eyes too. They leaned in closer to each other. Closer, closer… Their lips met and it was the sweetest mustard-ketchup lip lock ever!!!

Then at after 11p.m., Daphne was in her room, which she had to now share with Grandmother, writing in her journal on her bed. Grandmother took some sleeping pills and fell asleep. Ian though was still awake, lying on the pull out couch bed in the living room.

Today was an okay, awesome, cute, hot, sexy, unsexy, beautiful, romantic, weird day. I felt so free and happy once I saw Ian at the airport. Then that kiss we had, that was romantic and hot!! I loved it!! I never wanted that moment to end. I bought the coolest hot dog today! I got the vendor to write Ian and Daphne in script on a hot dog in ketchup, with mustard bordering. Ian loved it. Our mustardy, ketchupy kiss at the park was so sexy and messy! Ian asked why I'm more quiet than usual. This is so unlike me… I told him the truth that it was the fear of not keeping this relationship for much longer. Then he asked me if I like someone else in Oxford. Which I sooo do not!! Ian also made a pretty unsexy toast during our little park picnic. He made it out to a 'new chapter in our relationship'. It's an ok toast, I guess…

CHeeRZ!! xx dAphANe