(A/N: So, so sorry it took me this long to update! Argh! This wasn't supposed to happen; I was supposed to be the author who updated dependably! Oh, well…here it is, Chapter 12…which is really Thing Number 11…but you get the idea. It's the first in a 'series' sort of thing that will last several chapters, so hopefully everyone likes the premise. And thanks so much to those who have 'favorited' or reviewed! It keeps me going! Until next time, then!)

(Ahem) Now, without further ado, I present to you…

Thing Number 11: Trip

Golden rays of light filtered through the early morning air, turning tiny particles of dust to sparkling gems and coming to rest on my sleep laden eyelids. I groaned softly and stirred, annoyed with the sun for disturbing my sleep. Lately the nightmares had receded, and now that rest came easier, I was always reluctant to let it slip away

My eyes fluttered open and focused blearily. I shifted my arms and in doing so realized they were wrapped tightly around Marie, who was curled against my chest with her head tucked under my chin.

I smiled softly, pulling back a tad to prop myself up with my elbow. Her hair, dyed blonde and grown out, curled around her shoulders and face, and sleep carved her delicate features with innocence. God, she was amazing. Every time my gaze fell upon her, I couldn't help but wonder what I had possibly done right to deserve her. I loved her, and for some strange, unfathomable reason, she loved me. I was like a child who had a test returned with a higher score than he had earned; I knew I didn't deserve it, but I couldn't quite bring myself to point out the truth. I stroked her cheek, ran my fingers through her hair. God, was she ever amazing…

Marie stirred, roused by my touch. I watched as she blinked her dark eyes, orienting herself (something she did quickly, I noted with relief), and then turning them to mine.

"Hey," I smiled.

"Hey yourself." Her lips quirked up at the edges, and she rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. When she opened them again they were clearer, more focused. "You're awake." She rose onto her elbow, as well, mirroring my posture.

"Yeah," I sighed, leaning back.

She perked up slightly, concern creeping amidst the umber of her irises. "Dream?"

"Naw." I glanced back at her, the smile playing on my lips once more, no faking required. "I just…woke up."

She laughed, the concern vanishing. "That's great! Maybe Charlotte's daytime torment has left no need for your nightmares."

"That's funny," I smirked, reaching up to pull her lips to mine.

She pulled away after a minute, resting her head on my shoulder and tracing my features gently, as though she were trying to absorb me through her fingertips.

I smiled again, curling my fingers around her wrist, and kissed her hand. "I've been thinking…"

"Uh, oh…" Marie tugged her hand from mine, wrapped her arms around my chest. "That can't be good…"

I laughed softly. "Are you so sure?"

She smiled wanly, glancing timidly up at me. "Whenever you're thinking…something bad is happening…"Marie shifted her gaze from mine quickly, looking anywhere and everywhere but at me.

My own smile faded a tad at the memories and I pulled her closer to me. "Nothing bad is gonna happen, Marie," I whispered, praying I was right. "We just need to be careful…"

She nodded slowly, quite accustomed with that fact. Part of her wanted to pass it all off as unnecessary precautions, but she couldn't ever forget that day in Paris, at my apartment. The threat was real. She couldn't deny that.

After a second of silence, Marie sighed, shook her head, and lifted her gaze to mine. "So, were you planning to tell me what you were thinking? Or was that just for suspense?"

I blinked, caught off guard for a moment, but recovered quickly and grinned. "Oh, yeah…about that. I just figured, you know, it seems the one who is always picking the 'things of the day' is you, and I-"

"Oh no…" she pursed her lips in a pout, realizing what was coming.

I pressed my finger to her mouth, silencing her. "And I decided it would only be fair if I got to pick for once." Noticing the blankness of her stare, I burst out laughing. "Oh, really! What could I possibly pick that would be so bad! It's not as though I'm going to take us to a shooting range, or anything like that…" I paused, an image of Marie struggling with a pistol forming in my mind. "Although that would be somewhat amusing…" I chuckled.

"Too late, mister!" She glared at me, poking my arm angrily. "You've already fired a gun quite a few times, if I remember correctly!"

I shrugged, feigning defeat. "Yes, but it's such a shame, really…"

Marie laughed, throwing her hands up in submission. "All right, Jason, if you insist, you can pick our 'thing of the day.' But at least warn me so I know how to prepare myself…"

"Thank you," I grinned. This was the best part. "I think…"

She stared at me, seeming not quite sure whether to be curious or afraid.

"…that we should go camping!"

--X--

"…and there will be bugs-who knows how big the bugs in India are-, and there are just bound to be other people, and what if it rains? And Charlotte! Her mum doesn't come back until Friday! We can't just leave her here! It's not like we can get a sitter, either-we're her sitters!"

"Marie!" My voice was sharp, and I grabbed her shoulders to pull her from her pacing and stand her in front of me. "Marie, relax!" I smiled in spite of myself, her flustered face striking me as particularly humorous. "First of all, bugs are just bugs. We'll bring bug spray. Secondly, there are plenty of uninhabited islands around Goa that aren't even recorded anywhere. And thirdly-I've thought about this already-we can just bring Charlotte with us. She's a dog. Dogs love nature!"

Marie regarded me silently for a minute, uncertainty shining through her dark eyes. "Bring her with us?"

"Yeah, why not? It'll be fine, trust me!"

She sighed, her gaze dropping to the floor as she pulled herself from my grasp and flopped onto the couch. "You're normally the paranoid one. Why am I the only one worrying about this?"

I sighed, sitting next to her. "That's probably my fault…normally I'm paranoid enough for both of us, huh?" I shot her a glance, noticed no change in her posture. I forged on regardless. "I'm sure this has some sort of psychological explanation. Now that I'm not worried, you feel like you need to be…but if I'm not freaking out, then you certainly shouldn't! It'll be perfectly fine, I swear."

Her eyes found mine for a split-second before she sagged against me, wrapping her arms tightly about my torso and burying her face in my shoulder. "I don't want to lose you, Jason…"

I returned her embrace, sighing. "I know. I don't want to lose you, either, Marie. But I promise we'll be okay. Trust me on this one. Please. Can you do that?"

She nodded stiffly, holding me tighter. We stayed silent like that for several minutes, neither wanting to let the other go. Marie eventually pulled a way a tad, lifting her gaze to mine, and I noticed that her eyes were glittering with tears. Instead of crying, though, she smiled. "Jason…you only addressed three of my worries. You forgot the rain."

I couldn't help the smile that curled my own lips. "Oh, right….about that. Well, you know how camping is…."

"How?"

I kissed her teasingly, retreating from her embrace as I rose from the couch. "Truthfully? It probably will rain…"

Frankly, as I look back on that day, I realize it's a miracle I still got her to go…