Sitting bolt upright faster than the blink of an eye with her fangs bared and a hiss for good measure, Pam's hands and eyes immediately assess her torso, which - to her massive relief - is not convex.
Their next destination is Eric who is lying next to her stretched out in all his godlike, Nordic glory, dead for the day with a look of peaceful bliss plastered on his handsome features. That tranquility is short lived, however, as she swiftly - and none too gently - socks him square in the chest. She instantly feels a little better.
"Pam! What is the meaning of this?" Eric roars as he sits up and reaches out to hold her arms by her sides lest she feel the need for further violence.
"I had a bad dream," she deadpans.
"You have a strange way of seeking comfort from such disturbances," he retorts with brow furrowed in irritation over her comportment.
"It was the worst thing you could ever imagine. Well, maybe not you, but it was certainly not something I would ever willingly endure."
"What happened?" Eric asks as his tone, features, and grip soften simultaneously at the look of sheer horror plastered on his progeny's pretty face as she recalled her terrible dream. "Tell me about it, Hasi."
"Never mind," Pam responds. She looks away briefly as she quickly regains her composure while shaking the remnants of the frightening nightmare from her mind's eye. "Bottom line: we need a change of scenery and fast. Let's leave at dusk. Please?" Her eyes meet his with a look of urgency, and do not leave them again. "I don't care where we go, but I don't want to stay on this island any longer. It's toxic."
Taking advantage of his thoughtful silence she continues with an air of confidence, "Actually, I've been thinking of a different kind of island life lately. What are your thoughts on the Caribbean? They've got fantastic, sprawling, pastel-painted plantation beach villas there. Pastels, Eric. You know I absolutely adore pastels, and I've always wanted a pink - no, lavender - house; it is my favorite color."
A/N:
According to Lady Dudley (in Ch 7 of her fantastic angst fest, "Deep Purple"), " 'Hasi' is a German term of endearment (lit. trans. = 'Bunny'), apparently it has quite sugary-sweet overtones, but I thought it would be appropriate." It's one of my favorite pet names that she's used for E/P, so I've included it here (thanks, Lady D :)