A/N: Hey ya'll! Did'ja think I'd abandoned this? Naw, I've just been busy…and procrastinating. I've been working on this chapter for forever! And now it's done! Happy Memorial Day!
Jane rubbed her eyes tiredly as she forced herself to stay awake. The only thread of consciousness holding was being tethered by the sweet smell of strawberry batter. Stinkie stirred the mixture skillfully, his wrist flicking with ease at an inhuman pace as he lost himself in his work. It'd been over a hundred years since he'd done a commission, and since this one was for Jane it seemed extra special.
I use ta give my regulars discounts, he mused. Well, the regulars I liked anyways…
He winced slightly at the memories and his steady pace faltered. Not everyone had been so keen on the idea of having him as the source of their delicious delectables. He'd gotten a lot of upturned noses as he handed them their orders, not so much as even a quick thank you was received. Some even plugged their noses. Talk about rude.
"Stiiiinkiiiie…" Jane groaned, her forehead now flat on the table and hand gesturing for him to come closer. He finished pouring the batter into the pan and floated over. Jane groggily lifted her head but managed a smile.
"Can I lick it?" she asked pointing to the bowl. Stinkie's face flushed immediately, his mind retreating to the gutter before realizing what she had meant.
"O-Oh! Yeah, sure…" he shyly handed her the bowl and retreated, taking a deep breath and swallowing.
Pansy… he berated himself. Can even talk ta her without jump'n outta my ectoplasm…
His eyes shifted to Jane and he watched her lazily lick the bowl. In his peripheral he noticed just how tired she really was, her head bobbing dangerously low. Once, her head dropped completely in, and she didn't resurface for a good minute.
"Jane?" he questioned after setting the timer for the cake to bake.
Jane slowly peeked up at him from hooded lids, and Stinkie couldn't hold back his grin from the mess she'd made.
"Wah?" she muttered almost incoherently.
Stinkie shook his head in amusement and grabbed a dish towel. After wetting it he floated over and gently grabbed Jane's chin. She didn't even have the strength to open her eyes, which was fine for him. He didn't know if he'd be able to stay this close if he had to stare into those mossy orbs. Slowly he wiped away the batter, chuckling at how she'd even managed to get it in her hair.
Dis reminds me o' me, he thought, a sense of nostalgia washing over him as he remembered being in her place many times through his childhood. 'Doh it wasn batta…it was blood…
A hazy image surfaced as his brain worked hard to remember. He'd always been picked on as a little kid. Stretch tried to look after him but there were times when Stinkie'd been caught alone. Children were mean little shits. Especially the big ones. Every now and then he'd come home with a mask of dirt and blood covering his face and every time his favorite nanny would come and clean him up. She'd been so nice, like the big sister he'd always wanted. Growing up with boys was tough, so between her and his mother it was a big relief. What had her name been?
"Mmmphr…" Jane groaned, and Stinkie jumped, realizing his grip on her chin had tightened.
"Sorry," he mumbled while staring at her slack features. She was very soft and smooth, and before he could stop himself his thumb had shifted in favor of stroking her cheek. Her lips parted at the change, still awake but unaware of the things around her. He could do anything he wanted right now, and she wouldn't know…
Stinkie eyed her lips nervously, a strange sense of hunger and need washing over him. He could get away with it. Kissing her. He'd thought about it more times than he would admit, but all his fantasies involved Jane wide awake and willing. His thumb trailed down to his object of desire and lightly brushed the silky skin. Jane twitched, her lips pursing and accidentally kissing his thumb in the process. She was long gone now, but Stinkie didn't notice. His mind went fuzzy and a shiver of pleasure shot through his body at the contact. If this was how he reacted to an accidental kiss to the thumb, how would he take the real thing? Would he melt? Would he faint? Would he…take matters into his own hands?
Stinkie blinked hard and bit his tongue. His thoughts were going downhill again. What ever happened to his former pure self that stuttered at the thought of even holding a girl's hand? When did he suddenly get so sexual? Stinkie sighed in frustration and gazed at the woman asleep in his hand. Well…maybe…a little kiss wouldn't be so bad…?
Swallowing his jitters Stinkie slowly leaned in closer to Jane. He wasn't going for the lips. No, his real first kiss was not going to be a stolen one. For now, he would settle for the cheek. Hesitating only briefly when his nose brushed her ear, Stinkie manned up and gently pressed his lips to her skin. He shuddered at her softness and almost regretted the action. But not because he thought it was bad. No, it was because he didn't want to leave, to lose the intimate contact he now had with Jane. His lips lingered against her cheek, lightly brushing her skin as Stinkie moved his head from side to side. Jane groaned in her sleep, scaring him enough to jerk back in case he be caught. But she wasn't awake. Instead she seemed to just be uncomfortable, moving away from his hand and settling face down on the table. Stinkie sighed in relief and reluctantly put some distance between them.
His lips tingled for the rest of the night.
XxXxXxXxX
"RED LIGHT!" Fatso shouted and whipped around quickly.
Kat, James, and Casper were all frozen in normal running positions while Stretch, Stinkie, and Jane all held ridiculous ones. Fatso huffed and turned around again.
"GREEN LIGHT!"
Everyone dropped their positions and ran along the beach as fast as they could.
"RED LIGHT!"
It was difficult to stop in the sand (though the ghosts obviously held an advantage) so it was amazing how Jane and Kat were able to stop in time and freeze. James, however, was not so lucky. He'd been going too fast, and without proper traction from the sand, his attempt at stopping turned to slipping on his ass and rolling.
"Yer out doc!" Stretch cackled, abandoning his position in favor of pointing and mocking.
"So are you," Fatso said with a smirk.
Realizing his mistake Stretch growled a floated off to the side with the doc. Everyone still frozen tried hard not to grin. Fatso then turned around and everyone relaxed their stance, but it was Jane to notice first something amiss and quickly froze again. Stinkie, who had been watching her, followed her lead.
"RED LIGHT!"
Fatso shouted in a fake out. He turned around just in time to catch Kat and Casper move and declared them out. Giving each other competitive smirks Jane and Stinkie prepared to try and win.
"GREEN LIGHT!"
The two bolted without a word, each switching their goals from winning to just simply beating the other.
"RED LIGHT!" Fatso shouted but turned too late. Stinkie had grabbed the sea shell his brother had been guarding and floated quickly out of reach back to the starting line. Jane groaned at not having been fast enough and accepted defeat.
"And Stinkie is da winnaaaaaaaaaa!" he shouted, throwing the shell like a touchdown and doing a little dance.
"Show off," Stretch grumbled and clocked his brother in the head. But he wasn't really mad. It was hardly ever when his younger brother came out on top, and even though it was over a silly game, he was still proud.
"I'm hungry," Kat suddenly said.
"Me too," Jane agreed. It was a little past two and the sandwiches they'd consumed earlier were already burnt off from running. "How about fish? I know this great restaurant where they take you out on a boat to catch your own dinner."
"But dat means we'll hafta wait even longa to get da food!" Stinkie whined.
"They have snacks in case the trip is long. And if you don't catch anything they have fish already there at the restaurant," she assured.
Stinkie still pouted and Jane playfully nudged his arm. This caused him to shyly smile and nudge her back.
"Bet I can catch a bigga fish den you's," he challenged.
"Oh yeah? We'll see," Jane accepted with a smirk.
The pair continued bantering as they walked off back to the house. Everyone else watched them go. They'd been ignored.
"Um, please don't tell me I'm the only one that saw that," Kat drawled in pleasant confusion.
"Kinda wish I hadn't," Stretch snarked, sneering at the sugary sweetness he'd just witnessed his brother partake in.
"At least they're finally getting somewhere," James said as he folded his arms. The looks he received made him jump. "What?"
"You've seen it too?" Casper asked referring to the cozy air that had been growing between the two lately.
"It's hard to miss," James smiled as he began walking back to the beach house as well.
"So…what are we gonna do about it?" Kat questioned with barely suppressed giddiness.
"Whad'ya mean, whad're we gonna do about it?" Stretch growled, thinking Kat was going to try and stop whatever relationship was forming between Stinkie and Jane. Even though he felt like he was losing his brother, Stinkie still deserved happiness.
"I meant are we gonna try and help them along?" Kat snapped, simultaneously embarrassing and relieving the eldest apparition.
"That sounds like fun!" Casper laughed.
"Well, we can't be obvious," James mulled. "So we'll have to do small things."
"Ooo! How about on the fishing trip we let them have some alone time! Stinkie and Jane will be on one side of the boat and we'll go to the other!"
Caught up in the excitement everyone cheered and plotted the rest of the way across the beach.
XxXxXxXxX
"Turn left up here!" Jane instructed with a small squeal of delight. James directed the small rental car off the back road and down a decently graveled drive. The windows were down and everyone stuck out their heads to see their destination.
"Is that it?" Kat asked as she pointed to an average sized brick building settled near a small beach.
"Yep!" Jane answered with a smile, the salty wind stinging her lips.
James pulled into a smoothly paved parking lot and questioned why they were the only customers.
"I called Ramon earlier, he's the owner, and he decided to close up so we can have a whole boat to ourselves!"
Everyone followed Jane as she practically ran out the car (Casper and the trio invisible), jogging to keep her in sight when she rounded a corner past the entrance. Kat and James breathed a sigh of relief when she stopped at what looked to be a back door only used by employees. Just as they began to catch their breath, a tan, well muscled man came tearing through the door as if he were on fire.
"Jane!" he cried, arms out and waving like a chicken.
"Ramon!" she exclaimed with equal joy, jumping into his arms.
He swung her around a few times and they laughed as if no worries had ever plagued their lives. Finally Jane squirmed enough for the man to let go, but he seemed to not be done for he ruffled her hair as if she were a child.
"I was so worried about you!" he exclaimed, the relief evident in his voice. "After you ran off I had to find out from the media that you were safe in Maine! What's up with that? You didn't call, you didn't mail, you didn't-"
"I'm sorry Ramon! I guess I just got so caught up in hiding I forgot about everyone else…"
"Thanks," Ramon scoffed, but his smile remained. "I've missed you too."
"Hey! Wait up!"
The group all turned from the gushy embrace to watch a very pregnant woman do her best to hobble down the stairs of the back door. Ramon was quick to assist but the woman swatted him away.
"I've done this before and I can do it again!" she snapped, but Ramon took it in stride, recognizing the swing in emotion as raging hormones.
"Izzy!" Jane exclaimed and rushed to her. The two tried to hug but Izzy suddenly keeled over and gave a grunt of pain.
"Oh god, that was a good kick…" she breathed with pride. Ramon just looked worried.
"Hun, please sit back down! I don't want you going into labor before Jane goes out on the boat."
Izzy glared and Jane laughed, loving the mousy looking woman's fiery attitude when she was pregnant.
"Yeah, I don't want to come back with fish and no one to cook it."
Izzy ignored them in favor of eyeing James and Kat who stood by watching in fascination.
"Who're your friends?"
"Oh!" Jane exclaimed in embarrassment. "Let me introduce you. This is Kat and James Harvey, they helped me when I first got into Maine and now I'm staying with them. Guys, this is Ramon and Izzy Smith. They're both old friends."
"Old? I'm only on my second kid!" Izzy joked, and as if on cue a small form came dashing out of the building and crashing into Jane.
"Auntie Jane!" screamed a young brunette boy as he tried to squeeze the life out of her.
"Jacob!" she wheezed with affection. "You've gotten so strong!"
The young boy stepped back and puffed up with pride.
"Yep, I'm six now! I gotta be strong ta protect my little sis!"
He then walked over to Izzy and gently placed a hand on her belly. His mother cooed her approval and ruffled his dark hair. James, Kat, and Casper (who was still invisible) smiled and silently 'aww'ed. The trio, also invisible, had mixed reactions.
"Ugh, dat kids so sugary sweet he's give'n me diabetes!" Stretch gagged as the group began exchanging pleasantries and heading inside.
"I think it's nice," Fatso said a bit quiet as he briefly thought back to his wife and how they never had children.
Stinkie didn't comment as the three followed the group into the building. He honestly didn't know where he stood on the topic.
XxXxXxXxX
The inside of the restaurant was very simple. The color scheme was rich tans and warm browns with wooden tables able to seat up to twelve. There were no booths, but there was a bar with a strange overall coloring of red. It was in the center of the humble restaurant and practically screamed at any passerby to come over and have a drink.
Which is exactly what everyone did.
"So have I really been on the news that much?" Jane asked as she nursed a specially blended daiquiri provided by Ramon.
"Oh yeah, you wouldn't believe," he said with an exasperated sigh.
"Take a look," Izzy said as she used a remote to turn on a television settled in the nearest corner of the restaurant to them.
The device clicked to life and everyone watched as a news reporter's smiling face came into view.
"…why she left but her fans are hoping for a soon return. Here is another clip from one of Jane Parkens's rare interviews."
The camera cut away to a pre-recorded talk show having aired about a year ago, the host of the show sitting in one chair and Jane sitting in the other. Everyone in the room was too enthralled to notice Jane's grunt of annoyance.
"So now let's dig a bit in the past now. We've already talked about you're upcoming movies, but what about the times when you weren't an actress?"
The Jane on T.V. gave a bright smile that had the audience putty in her hands, but everyone in the restaurant knew it was fake. They could see the strain in her cheeks and the hidden look under her façade that clearly screamed she wanted to be anywhere but there. The Harvey's and McFadden's were surprised to have noticed this, not having realized just how close they'd grown to be with Jane.
"Well, I guess you could say I was a normal kid," she answered simply.
"Well how was school? Were you popular? Smart?"
"No actually, I was home schooled since first grade and I wasn't exactly what you'd call a role model student."
She said the last part with a slightly embarrassed laugh, the real Jane slipping through a bit with the humor. The questions continued and Jane was careful to give short, if not clipped, answers. The clip soon came to an end and the reporter came on again. He babbled for a bit before his lead in for the next segment caused Jane's eyes to widen in attention.
"…and now Mrs. Parkens's message."
The screen faded and in his place appeared a woman who's face seemed oddly familiar.
"Is that your mother?" James asked.
Jane mutely nodded her head and gazed at the screen with an unreadable expression. The woman held similarities to Jane such as the dark hair and pouty lips, but that was as far as the similarities got. The woman's face was much more round than her daughter's and nose a bit more droopy. She looked tired, worn, and just down right depressed. Jane studied her mother as she spoke, no indication of happiness or anger evident in her features.
"I wish we could talk Jane, I wish you could come home and forgive me for whatever I've done."
Ramon snorted but said nothing.
"I miss you. We ALL miss you. I know you haven't run away, you're old enough to make your own decisions, but I can't even sleep at night with the thought that I drove you to this. I just want yo-"
The television clicked off and Ramon stood from his seat. Jane blinked and looked at his outstretched hand in surprise.
"Come on, let's go fishing."
Jane hesitated, then finally took a large mouthful of her daiquiri and ignored his hand before standing up.
Nobody knew what to do, so they just followed.
XxXxXxXxX
"It was so nice of Ramon to just hand over the boat like that," Kat commented as she cast her line out to sea.
"Yeah, your like the captain now!" Casper laughed as he too cast his line.
Ramon had literally left them alone out on the boat. Jane having insisted he stay with Izzy in case anything happened, Ramon was forced to teach everybody how to work the boat controls. Kat was then dubbed driver as she was fast to catch on where the gas, brake, and anchor were. Though James didn't want Kat to do it, the lesson had completely flown over his head, the trio were just dangerous, and Jane was already too intoxicated to drive them. After they headed off into the ocean Jane went straight for the cooler at the back of the boat and started guzzling a can of beer. Her grimace was an obvious sign that she didn't like the taste but for some reason she continued to drink it. Earlier before they left Ramon warned she usually got that way whenever her mother was involved, but it happened very rarely. It didn't take much to get her drunk, so he instructed that after her third beer they should try and persuade her to lay down on the deck and go to sleep before she fell over board.
James was not looking forward to Jane's intoxicated actions.
"We still sticking to da plan?" Stretch asked as he began discretely moving towards the front of the boat.
"I'm worried about Jane," James admitted but followed anyway.
"Don't worry, Stinkie won't let anything happen to her," Fatso assured, glancing back at the two before heading out of sight.
Fatso was right. More so than he would have thought. Stinkie hadn't noticed everyone moving away because he was too busy worrying over the dangerous direction Jane was swaying. She was on her second beer, the can still half full and sitting on the deck ignored. Jane looked content as she gazed out into the ocean, the sun dazzled her eyes but she was too tipsy to register it was hurting them. Stinkie turned his head and watched her slack face, wondering if she would notice him staring.
"The ocean is beautiful," she commented, her words slurring slightly.
"Yeah, it is," he replied, ignoring the ocean all together.
"Did I ever thank you for that cupcake?"
"Yeah, last night," he said with a shy grin.
"Can I ask you a favor?"
Stinkie raised his eyebrows in surprise, but she still wasn't looking at him.
"Sure."
Jane paused and her eyelids drooped a bit, almost to the point of closing. She looked ready to fall asleep standing up.
"I want you to teach me how to bake."
Stinkie just about dropped his pole into the ocean. Teach her how to bake? Where had that come from?
"You know, like an apprentice!" she giggled, finally facing him and giving a smile that caused his face to almost burst into flames.
An apprentice? Now that was something that had never crossed his mind before. So, how would that work exactly? Kat and the Doc still didn't know he cooked…wait! She could provide a cover up! He didn't want the other two fleshies to know he made sugary delights, it would ruin his reputation! So he could explain Jane the situation and he could cook anytime he wanted! Whenever the Doc or Kat would come into the kitchen he could just poof out and Jane would pretend it had only been her doing it! Genius!
"Stink," she suddenly began using a short version of his name.
"Yeah?" he replied, proud that his voice remained level instead of cracking with his new found excitement.
"You like me right?"
When he didn't answer right away she turned and raised an eyebrow.
"Right?"
"Um, well, yeah," he answered lamely.
"Do you like me, like me?"
She had surprised him again, but this time with a more intimate subject. Did he like her like her? Wasn't it obvious? Did she just want to hear him say it? Stinkie felt as if he were sweating, and due to the intense situation his B.O. kicked up a notch. Jane noticed through her intoxicated stupor and wrinkled her nose.
"Why do you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Excrete foul smells while under stress," she said with a giggle, stepping closer with a sway of her hips.
Stinkie didn't move, only dropping his fishing pole where he stood. Jane got close enough to touch him without even extending her arm, but she made no move to do so.
"You didn't answer my question."
"W-what? Why do I stink?"
"Nooooo," she drawled with a wave of her finger that came up to poke his bulbous nose. "Do you like me, like me?"
"Uh, um, why do ya wanna know?"
His last sentence came out as a giggle ending in a squeak when Jane pushed her face up into his until their noses meshed together. Then just as suddenly she backed off and threw her hands in the air.
"BECAUSE! Everyone says you do but YOU! I don't know what to believe!" She paused. Then quieter, "Or feel…"
Stinkie was confused again, and this time Jane could see through her drunken haze that he didn't understand.
"You want to know the truth?" she asked but didn't wait for an answer. "I use to think you were mean, the way you treated me so harshly. THEN I realized you just thought of me as an intruder. Somebody that created a…uh, a wedge between your family!"
Jane spun around and began talking to the sea.
"But then we became friends…I don't know how or when but we did." She turned back to him. "Then I started thinking you were cute." She smiled deviously at his flushed face. "In a little brother kind of way."
Stinkie bit his tongue as he felt anger rise. What was she doing? Mocking him? She obviously knew he liked her, so what was she trying to get at? What was the point of this speech? Was she trying to tell him she just wanted to be friends? And who the hell gets drunk enough to start spilling their gets with just two beers?
"Now listen here-" he began but was cut off when he heard a rather loud 'CLUNK'.
Both of them turned to see Stinkie's fishing line was moving, and it tugged once more to the point of the pole nearly flying off the boat. Jane's face lit up and she quickly grabbed it. Pulling with all her might she succeeded in hooking the fish on the other end and was now trying to reel it in. Without thinking Stinkie rushed to help her, holding the pole and pulling so she could use two hands for the reel.
"Dis fish don't know when ta quit!" he growled out as another tug nearly ripped the pole from his grip.
"I think he's saying the same about you," Jane giggled.
Her joke caught him off guard and he dissolved into snorts and giggles. She too joined and almost lost the fish entirely. Sobering up a bit they soon worked enough to be able see the fish being dragged up to the surface.
"There it is!" she exclaimed excitedly.
"Hey, what's dat?" Stinkie asked pointing a little ways away from where their fish was.
"Is that a…"
"Shark!"
Not even a split second later a shark lunged out of the water right underneath their catch, effectively swallowing it whole and then taking off. The pole was ripped from the duos hands hard enough for them to ricochet off the boat's side and land hard on their backs. Stinkie rubbed the back of his head, the pain already gone but annoyed that he could still feel it. He hadn't been dead long enough to rid himself of that mindset. Jane groaned from her spot beside him, rolling closer and cringing.
"You okay?" he asked with genuine concern.
Jane looked up at him a gave him a sort of smiling grimace.
"Yeah, but I think I need some ice," she admitted while rubbing her head.
An idea came to him and he shyly reached up behind her.
"It's kinda like ice," he said, referring to his hand.
When Jane made no move to object his advances, Stinkie gently ran his fingers through her hair until his palm lay flat against her scalp. She shivered at the cool sensation, goose bumps surfacing and eyes closing. After awhile Stinkie began slowly massaging the back of her head and Jane let out a small moan of approval.
"You're really good at this," she complimented. "Feels like you had a lot of practice."
"On who?" he asked with a bit of snark in his voice.
"Uh, your past girlfriend or something?" she said as if it were obvious, opening her eyes and giving him a look.
Stinkie shied away from it by giving a bitter chuckle towards the deck.
"I uh, ain't neva had no girl before…"
A silence followed and Stinkie became nervous again. His hand began to retract but found itself stuck fast. He looked up and found Jane staring him down lazily, a grip on his wrist and an intoxicated glaze over her eyes. She blinked slowly and a soft smile lifted her cheeks.
"So…you've never had a girlfriend?" she asked, leaning a bit closer.
"No," he replied, amber eyes searching for any tricks or mischief.
"Soooooo…you've never…kissed…anyone?"
Stinkie started breathing quickly, an act that would have accompanied a fluttering heart about to burst from adrenaline…if he were still alive. He swallowed as Jane moved even closer, their noses brushing and breath mixing. She tilted her head and paused.
"Do you want to kiss me?"
There was a beat, and they both closed their eyes.
"Yes."
And then she moved in. Sweetly she pressed her warm lips to his ghostly ones, drawing a sharp breath at their cool temperature. Stinkie twitched, not daring to do anything in case he messed something up. But oh, how he wanted to take control. She was so soft, softer than her cheek. And warm. So, so warm. Her breathed smelled of alcohol but he couldn't of cared less. He loved smells, not just bad ones, and boy did she smell good. She pressed harder and it was almost his undoing. He kissed her back, trembling with excitement, fear, and pleasure. He'd never had this. Not with anyone. For a moment he thought he was dreaming, but the feel of her lips as she moved them against his was something he could never dream up.
And before he knew what was going on it was over. She leaned back with a smile, giggling as he fell forward in a desperate attempt to not lose her. Stinkie's fists balled together with desire as he barely restrained himself from weeping. He didn't care if he looked back and realized how pathetic he was being. All he wanted was her, Jane. The girl who was beautiful inside and out, the girl who took her time to know him, the girl who became his friend, the girl who took his first kiss. He liked her, he really did. All he had to do now was tell her.
"Jane-" he began, but was cut off when she suddenly closed her eyes and…
…passed out.
A/N: Soooooo? What did'ja think? Good? Bad? I'll admit a lot of parts were rushed and could have been written better but I've been dying to get this chapter posted so the romance can finally take off! I'm going to have so much fun writing about their little baking adventures!
P.S.
THANK YOU SO MUCH REVEIWERS WHO HAVE STUCK WITH AND ENCOURAGED MY WRITING ILOVEYOUILOVEYOUILOVEYOU!
...Phew! Glad I got that off my chest.