I think it's time for John and Cameron to start developing their relationship. There are many unsaid secrets, there have been many misunderstandings that could have a heavy impact on them. Starting with this chapter they're going to find out more about each other bit by bit. Well, there's still the question of yesterdays' problems, which should be solved. This is the chapter to set things straight between the young ones.

Next chapter will be less static, I can promise you that.

Chapter 19 – It's a New Day

John awoke with a start, with a feeling that something was terribly wrong. His eyes opened abruptly and after a second, focused on a beautiful face, lying on the pillow just few inches from his, with soft brown eyes gazing intently at him. In a second he realized that he just had another of his nightmares and felt relief that he could woke to such a beautiful sight. He saw, how Cameron's lips curved into a beaming smile as she saw him open his eyes and before he even realized what he was doing, he smiled back, stretched the distance to her face and kissed her softly an her smiling lips.

After the tender kiss, he pulled back a little and smiled at her wider: "Good morning Cam. I love you."

Cameron smiled even wider upon hearing his words and answered in a gentle, soft voice: "Good morning John. I love you too."

John grinned, flopped on his back and pulled Cameron closer to lay her head on his chest: "This is how I want to wake up every day from now on! With my Cameron at my side!"

Cameron tried her best to tilt her head enough to look at him, which proved to be quite an intricate job, considering the fact that John showed no intentions to let her move. He was gently caressing her hair and she absolutely didn't want to severe that touch: "Yesterday you complained that you dislike it when someone's watching you in sleep."

John kissed the top of her head: "Yeah, but I also said that I don't mind if it's you, right?"

He felt Cameron's head nodding into his chest: "Correct."

Then John remembered that he was alone in his bed yesterday: "Ahem, Cameron … not that I'd be complaining, but … weren't you making your perimeter check yesterday as I went to bed? I don't remember you coming into bed with me."

Cameron looked at him with undefined expression in her eyes: "Am I disturbing you?"

"Cam! I said that I'm not complaining. In fact, I'm happy that you're here with me. I was just asking when you came to bed."

"You fell asleep fourteen minutes after you went to bed and I went to check everything. Thirty one minutes and sixteen seconds later I returned and I decided that I would like to touch you so I clambered to you. Was it a wrong thing to do?" Cameron gazed at him inquisitively.

John giggled: "Absolutely not, Cam! It was just the best possible thing you could do."

Cameron smiled at him relieved that she did the right thing. She shifted her position so that she could look into his eyes while her hand tenderly began to stroke his cheek. She felt completely at ease and happy. She remembered again how she once told John that she was a machine and couldn't be happy. Now she knew that it wasn't true. She could be happy, machine or no machine!

For few seconds they remained silent and just looked into each other's eyes. Cameron continued to gently stroke John's cheek and John's hand was lost in the waterfall of her auburn hair, just like his thoughts were lost in the affection for the girl, lying in his arms.

"John? We should get up and take a breakfast. It's a beautiful day again and we can spend it together. Not like yesterday…" Cameron grinned at him as she remembered how they have been separated the day before. But she also remembered how they finally managed to overcome the self imposed inhibitions and admitted to their feelings. Inexplicably she suddenly felt warm inside.

"Do we really have to? I'd like to stay a little longer in bed." John smiled at her mischievously. "With you!" He added after a short pause.

Cameron responded to his smile with her brilliant one. "We will have enough time for that later. Now it's time to get up."

John sighed but nodded to her: "You're right again, Cam. Just like always."

"I'm not always right. Sometimes I can misjudge a situation or something else." Cameron spoke as if lost in her thoughts while her hand played idly with his hair which made John smile wider. Since they opened their hearts to each other she was acting more human with each passing minute. He never before heard her talking so absentminded or even playing with something, like she just did. But before he could say anything, Cameron focused her eyes on his and smiled slightly: "Like I misjudged our relationship."

John looked at her questioningly: "How did you misjudge our relationship?"

Cameron let out a convincingly human sigh and averted her eyes to look at his chest, where her finger began to draw intricate lines over John's skin. "I was convinced you hated me. Before, I mean. Since we decided to take this vacation, I've been completely confused because you treated me so nicely. Before that I was sure that you didn't want me around that you wished to be left alone. But now I see that I was completely mistaken. I believe that you always loved me, but never admitted it. Am I right?"

John furrowed his brows and looked at her: "Yes, Cam, you're right. I did love you, but always tried to deny it and to hide behind the impenetrable façade of a tough smartass. I simply couldn't admit that I could be feeling anything else but aversion towards you. I'm so…"

He was cut off by Cameron's finger on his lips. She smiled at him: "Haven't we already discussed about you constantly apologizing me? You don't have to do it anymore, OK?"

John's lips under her finger curved into a smile and he grabbed her finger and kissed it: "We did. But I've been treating you so badly that it'll probably take the rest of my life to redeem myself in my eyes."

Cameron's smile grew wider and she crawled upwards to him to kiss him on his lips. "We should really get up John."

"Yeah, let's go." John grinned at her and in that instant his stomach grumbled. Cameron giggled at him: "See? Even your stomach agrees with me."

John laughed aloud: "I am hungry, I admit. I just wanted to spend more time with you in bed."

Cameron grinned back slyly: "Is that so?"

John was at first taken aback by her expression and her words, but grinned mischievously back: "If you want it … well … it can be a promise …" He looked at her and saw how she nodded gingerly.

After they finally got ready without further interruptions and entered the dining room, John noticed that they were obviously very early, for there were at most ten people already in there. He couldn't dwell on his observations for very long, for Cameron resolutely dragged him towards the end of the room, obviously concentrated on a specific table. He willingly let himself be led by her and as she reached her destination, he noticed that she chose a small table for two by the window, overlooking the magnificent panorama of the mountains. His look lingered on the beautiful sight of the snow covered mountains, contrasting to the still pale blue sky. Sun was already up on the skies and illuminated the highest peaks with warm yellowish light and in a few minutes the color of the skies would turn into the deep blue one.

Cameron noticed his look and smiled self satisfied: "Did I choose correctly? Will this vista be satisfactory?"

John finally managed to tear his eyes from the countryside and took in even more beautiful sight of his girlfriend, smiling at him. "Yeah, Cam, it's wonderful. But still …" he paused a bit and saw how Cameron furrowed her brows slightly before he continued: "… nothing compares to you. The most beautiful sight here is when I look at you." He bowed to her and gave her a tender kiss on her lips.

Cameron beamed at him, feeling slightly ashamed but flattered. He thinks I'm the most beautiful sight here! He appreciates my choice! He loves me! "Thank you, John." She shyly let her eyes fall for a second before returning to look at him with unhidden love. Why am I responding to him this way? It's not a part of my programming. I just … want to do it. Strange!

John put his jacket on a chair to make sure that no one would take the place, Cameron chose and they returned to the tables, offering variety of foods and drinks. After they filled their plates – in reality, John filled it to the brim, while Cameron only took some fruits – and chose their drinks – John remained by his choice of morning coffee and Cameron decided for a glass of orange juice – they returned to their table and took their seats at the opposite sides. The table was small and they could easily reach each other across it.

Cameron laid her hand on the table and looked through the window with a sigh. Immediately after her sigh she felt John's hand clasping over hers and she turned to look into his smiling eyes. "Why are you sighing Cam?"

She smiled back and turned her hand upwards so that she could squeeze his gently. "Because I'm happy. I didn't think it would be possible at all. In fact only few weeks ago I was convinced that I can't be happy because I'm a machine. But I am happy. Thanks to you John."

John lifted her hand and brought it to his lips to give her fingers a kiss: "The pleasure is all mine Cam. I'm so glad that I'm finally over the bickering and that you don't resent me for being such a jerk." He inhaled deeply: "I don't know what I've been looking for in the past months. The best there is was right under my nose the whole time, but I rejected it. So it's I, who should thank you for being so patient and for loving me although I treated you like crap. Thank you for making me happier than I've ever been." He kissed her fingers again as he noticed something in the corner of his eye.

Cameron wanted to respond, but noticed how John's attention suddenly turned to something behind her and how his face suddenly became annoyed. "I don't believe it!" He murmured more to himself than to her and gazed at something or someone behind her. She turned to see what was there to annoy her John so much and to her surprise she saw that Andrea and Tim just entered the dining room and looked around as if searching for someone. In the next moment they noticed Cameron and John and smiled a little insecure while turning and starting towards them.

"How dare they…" Began John irritated, but Cameron slightly squeezed his hand: "John! Maybe they just want to talk. Don't be so irritated. Give them a chance to clear what happened yesterday." John's eyes returned to hers and he immediately felt better again, but he still wasn't exactly thrilled to see the siblings again: "Andrea already told me everything. What's there more to talk about it?"

Cameron shook her head slightly: "Let them come and tell us why they're here."

Suddenly John chuckled quietly: "I can't believe it! You are the one to calm me down! Cameron … right now you're more human than I am."

Cameron took a second to process his words and looked at him still a bit confused: "Thank you … I guess."

John just squeezed her hand in response: "OK, so let them talk."

While Andrea and Tim were approaching them, they both looked guilty and embarrassed. John couldn't help but grin wickedly at them. They look guilty as hell. Well, they should!

"Hi," came from both after they stopped at their table. It was more than obvious that they were embarrassed and they avoided looking directly into Cameron's or John's eyes. Finally Tim gathered his courage and looked into John's eyes: "We would like to apologize for our behavior yesterday. It was wrong and completely out of place. I won't try to blame it on anyone, for it was our own decision to listen to someone, telling us some things we wanted to hear." He paused and looked at Cameron: "I'm really sorry for how I behaved yesterday Cameron." His eyes fell on her hand, intertwined with John's and he sighed: "I was led to believe you would not be in a relationship with John, so I tried my best to win you." Suddenly he grinned slightly: "Hell, you're such a beauty that I couldn't resist. But I see that I've been told the wrong facts and I can only apologize again and hope that you'll be able to forgive me."

Cameron was a little taken aback by this sudden confession and it even flattered her little that he found her so beautiful. Not that it would mean anything special to her; it just made her feel desirable. There was only one person in the world whose opinion mattered to her and this person was holding her hand right now. She actually wasn't mad at Tim so she smiled slightly at him: "Of course, Tim. I've no hard feelings. Maybe I should apologize for overreacting too. Sometimes I forget my own strength."

Tim grinned wide at her: "Yeah, you are very strong. My butt ached the whole day. But I guess I kind of deserved it. So …" he stretched his hand towards her a little insecure "… friends?"

Cameron didn't have to think about it, she accepted his hand: "Friends."

John watched the discussion with a satisfied grin on his face. Then he turned to Tim: "Well, I'm not going to make somersaults from joy, but I think I can get over what happened yesterday." He turned to Andrea: "We already cleared everything yesterday so we're good."

Andrea nodded and turned to Cameron: "I'm sorry for trying to take John away from you Cameron."

Suddenly Cameron giggled: "Oh, I don't think you could have taken him away from me, should I be against it. Yesterday perhaps, but today … definitely not."

John was mesmerized by her unexpected reaction and her words, so he just smiled at her lovingly. As he turned to look at the siblings he could see that they smiled too. "So … what are you two doing here? Besides coming to apologize?"

Andrea responded: "We came over to see if you found Cameron and to apologize. We were really worried yesterday after Cameron disappeared." She wanted to ask Cameron what happened yesterday, but as she saw how she hung her head she decided not to pursue the issue further. After all it was none of her business why she disappeared.

Cameron hung her head in shame for her yesterday's reaction, but after she felt John's squeeze on her hand, she lifted her eyes again to first look at him and after seeing his encouraging smile, she turned to look at Andrea: "Well, he found me. Or to be more correct, I found him." She grinned wickedly at John whose facial color began to turn dangerously red. He felt the eyes of the siblings turning to him and said hastily: "I don't think they would be interested in details, Cam. The fact is, we found each other, correct?"

Cameron sensed his embarrassment and didn't pursue the matter so she just smiled and nodded: "Correct!"

Tim and Andrea sighed relieved and Tim turned to Cameron: "We're really glad that everything's OK. Would you think it possible for us to join you today? We'd really like to hang out with you. We would like to try to show you that we're not as bad as it might seem like after yesterday." He was looking at Cameron insecure, not knowing how she would react to his suggestion.

Cameron looked at John and inquisitively raised her eyebrow while tilting her head slightly. John thought for a moment and decided that it wouldn't be so bad to have some friends, especially after they cleared the misunderstandings, so he nodded to her while affirmative pursing his lips. Cameron smiled at him and turned to Tim: "Sure, why not. We'll just finish our breakfasts and after we're finished, we could meet in the lobby bar to decide what to do."

Andrea's and Tim's faces beamed at her in relief and they nodded happily. "Sure, we'll be over there. And thanks!" Andrea was quicker than Tim in their response. They turned and went for the exit.

"Well, this vacation could still turn out perfectly. I guess they're being sincere." John looked into Cameron's eyes. She just nodded and popped a strawberry in her mouth. After she chewed and swallowed it, she answered: "I couldn't trace any insincerity so I think they could be an acceptable choice for these days."

"Speaking of insincerity..." John's voice cut her off and he looked towards the entrance again. "There come two, whose so proclaimed sincerity proved to be a hoax." He motioned with his head towards the entrance and after Cameron turned to see whom he meant, although she already anticipated who would be there, she saw Sarah and Derek entering the room. They looked around and as they noticed Cameron and John, they came to them.

"Good morning John. Good morning Cameron." Cameron was a little surprised that Sarah would greet her so formally. But she was almost shocked as Derek repeated the words exactly the same way, although more mumbled than said. But still … he wished her a good morning and even used her name! John's eyes were equally wide upon hearing his uncle greeting Cameron. But they both managed to answer in the same way.

"I see that you've chosen a table for two. Well, I guess, we'll take the next one." Sarah stated with a slight note of sarcasm in her voice.

"Oh mom, we didn't know when you'd be coming down, so we decided not to sit at the bigger table and possibly occupy a place for a larger group." John's voice was laced with even more noticeable sarcasm as he stared into his mother's eyes defiantly.

Sarah's face changed in a second and she smiled at her son: "Like mother like son. I taught you well, John."

"I'd like to think so, mom." John answered, this time without a trace of sarcasm and smiled at her too. "We've just had a talk with Andrea and Tim and we're meeting them in the lobby bar after the breakfast. I guess we'll spend the day together. Will you join us after you're finished with breakfast too? Maybe we could do something together?" His voice sounded even more hopeful than he actually wanted it to. But as he saw his mother's face turn into a happy smile after his words, he admonished himself that she was his mother and loved him dearly.

Sarah nodded: "Why, sure, we'll join you. Won't we, Derek?" She turned to Derek, who stood at her side, feeling a little like being in a wrong movie, but he still managed to nod. "Sure, why not. I just want to warn you that I'm not going up that slope."

John laughed at him: "Nobody's expecting you to."

After they finished their breakfast, Cameron and John went to find Andrea and Tim. Before leaving, John reminded his mother to join them in the bar and was surprised to see her beaming at him and nodding vigorously.

They had no problems finding the siblings, for the bar was at this time empty. Andrea and Tim chose a table close to the entrance, a table Cameron would definitely not choose, for it was open from all sides and it would make surveillance of the surroundings almost impossible. "Relax, Cam! It's no big deal and we won't be attacked." John noticed her irritated view and immediately also understood her sweeping of the bar with her eyes, so he leaned to whisper in her ear.

Cameron frowned and turned to look at him in surprise: "How do you know what I'm thinking of?"

John gave her a quick kiss on her cheek, resulting in vanishing of her frown and a nice, albeit small smile appeared to grace her lips: "I believe to know you quite good, Cameron. Besides, your face showed just what you were thinking."

Cameron frowned at his statement again and already opened her mouth to say something but reconsidered. I must be defective. I shouldn't show my feelings and here I am – carrying my heart on the sleeve. At least … I think I used the right phrase.

John understood what she was thinking without her telling him and smiled gently: "Cam, I love you just the way you are. And I love you even more when you show your feelings and don't hide behind the expressionless terminator mask."

Cameron felt how warmth spread inside her upon hearing his words and smiled warmly at him: "I love you too John."

"Here you are! Come, join us." Tim's voice broke the magic of the moment as Cameron and John were already loosing themselves in each other's eyes. John chuckled irritably, grabbed Cameron's hand and pulled her towards the table where Andrea and Tim were already waiting for them. Cameron felt his irritation and squeezed his hand reassuringly.

Upon reaching the table they sat down on a small sofa, close together so that their hips were not only touching, but were pressed together. To feel the body of his beloved so close to his caused John to suddenly switch into happy mood and he smiled satisfied. Andrea, who was looking at him, noticed his smile and his quick, but meaningful glances into Cameron's direction. Also Cameron's gentle smiles, directed at John didn't escape her. She smirked a little at the sight and realized how wrong she had been. It was more than obvious that these two were madly in love. She turned to John: "So, John, are you two planning something special today? Perhaps we could go to the ski lift together and see if we yesterday learned the art of snowboarding good enough to survive without help."

John shook his head: "No, nothing." Then he remembered that he hadn't asked Cameron if she had something planned for today, so he turned to her: "Do you want to do something else Cam?"

Cameron shook her head: "No, I didn't plan anything." She paused for a second like she'd be processing something and her eyes suddenly snapped up to look into John's as if she would remember something: "John, yesterday I saw the signs for a 'wellness'. What is 'wellness'?"

John suppressed a grin as he looked into her inquisitive eyes, looking at him with a seriousness, but still with a curiosity of an eight year old child. "It's a place where you go to bath, to go to the sauna, to have a massage and such things that relax you and make you feel well."

Tim and Andrea looked at them with astonishment. They couldn't understand that someone wouldn't know what wellness means. However, none of them wanted to say anything so they just exchanged looks and nodded.

Cameron smiled upon hearing John's explanation. She didn't really care what others thought about her and wasn't embarrassed at least that Andrea and Tim heard that she didn't know what wellness means. She tilted her head and gave John a shy look through her eyelashes: "Maybe we could go there in the evening?"

John understood her look very good and swallowed hard. She's seducing me again! I wonder where did she learn such girlish gestures? Programming or something else? I doubt that there is such thing as so sophisticated programming. It must be her alone. I guess I'll have to find out. But the prospect of visiting a wellness center together with Cameron pumped the blood through his veins with increased speed. The sheer thought of Cameron in a tiny bikini cause his eyes to glaze and his breathing quickened instantly. Cameron noticed the change in John's vitals and also explained everything correctly. She knew what impact she had on him and smiled inwardly satisfied to have reached her goal.

After few seconds John's eyes finally returned to normal and he sighed heavily: "That would be wonderful, Cam! I'd really like to go there … with you." Then he remembered that they weren't alone and turned towards Tim and Andrea: "So, we could really go up the slope together."

Tim nodded and began to fidget a little. Andrea noticed it and nudged him. He cast her slightly distressed look and inhaled deeply before turning to face John and Cameron again. "Well, there's still something I'd like to say." He concentrated on John: "I know that Andrea already told you why she tried to hit on you." Then he turned to Cameron: "I think it's only fair that you know it too: yesterday, while we were walking from the hotel, Derek told me that I should try to seduce you. He said that you wouldn't have a boyfriend and would be prepared to give me a chance." He saw how Cameron's face darkened and she already opened her mouth, so he stopped her with raised palm: "Please, let me finish. I would like to apologize to you both, but to you specially. I shouldn't have tried what I did and I'm really sorry." He stopped, took a deep breath and grinned slightly insecure: "However, it's hard not to feel attracted to such a beautiful girl like you. But I see that there's nothing true about what Derek told me, so, I wish you both to be happy together." He sighed relieved that he finally managed to ease his guilt.

John looked at him interested and after he finished he turned to Cameron. Her expression surprised him quite a lot. She looked like a cat that just got the mouse in its claws, so self satisfied she looked. God, she's definitely more human than I ever thought possible. I wonder if she knows that her emotions are written all over her face. Then he turned towards Tim again: "Well, thank you for your explanation. I already knew some of it, but still it's nice to see that you realized that it sometimes isn't bad to be a bit distrustful. Especially towards total strangers, trying to tell you how someone would desperately want you to be her boyfriend." Tim nodded and shrugged.

John now turned to Andrea: "As a matter of fact, it was more or less Derek's idea. My mother was just playing along like all mothers do when it comes to their only child being in peril, according to their judgment. Although I can't imagine why would she think that Cameron could be dangerous to me." He stopped and chuckled: "OK, for my heart perhaps. Actually, she already won it. Although I fought fiercely and bravely, I lost in the end. And now … well, now I'm glad that I lost." He smiled gently at Cameron, who was gazing at him with wide open eyes like in a daze. She so didn't expect John to tell someone he would be in love with her. As she saw his smile she smiled back at him: "I think that you didn't lose. I think that we both won."

John nodded vigorously: "Absolutely!" then he turned towards Tim again: "So, what do you think … should we do something to pay it back to my dear uncle? Nothing dangerous, just something that would give him second thoughts and would show him that he shouldn't mess with others' lives. I don't know, maybe a snowball fight, or making his printout in the snow, making him wet?"

Tim's and Andrea's faces looked a bit confused, but gradually they digested John's proposal and began to grin wide. "Why not. It could be interesting."

Cameron grinned from ear to ear. Now she had collaborators in her quest of annoying Derek Reese. She could surely find something interesting in her extensive file on what annoyed him. John saw her grin and understood her excellent. He put his arm around her shoulders, squeezed her shoulder and whispered in her ear: "Your chance to annoy Derek. And we'll all help you. Satisfied?"

Cameron nodded like a child, having been asked if it liked candies and, if possible at all, grinned even wider. "Yes!" She was just about to say something more as John, who was at the moment looking towards the entrance, squeezed her shoulder again: "They're coming. Be sweet and nice!"

Cameron gave him the 'Do you think I'm stupid?' look and tried to skid a little away from him, but met his adamant opposing. She gave him a confused look, but John just shook his head and squeezed her shoulder tighter: "No, Cam. We're not hiding it anymore!" She smiled at him and changed the direction of her movement, to almost melt into him.

After Sarah and Derek reached the group, Sarah noticed the close proximity between Cameron and John, her son's arm, reaching across the cyborg's shoulders and their obvious content with the closeness. She inhaled sharply, but restrained herself from saying anything. That's definitely something I don't want to see! Derek on the other hand, looked like he'd be completely uninterested in anything, concerning John and the metal. They sat down on the only free sofa. "So, guys, have you already decided what we should do today?" She looked at everyone, but her eyes remained on John.

John nodded and smiled sweetly at her: "Sure mom. We're going up today, so you can do what you want before the afternoon. But in the evening we would like to go to the wellness center. I guess that's something you could go along too, right?" His voice was thick with sweetness and he was smiling widely at her. Sarah sensed that this was a mask, especially after she checked the faces of the other youths and found them equally sweet. She knew that they were up to something, but until she found out what, she'd play along: "Yeah, sure! That would be nice. That's something even Derek could come with us. Swimming, lying in the Jacuzzi … nice!" She answered in equally sugary voice and smiled at John.

Derek was more or less oblivious to their discussion and didn't notice anything unusual, so he just looked at Sarah: "Well, that is really something I could do too. I bet they have a bar in there too. And they probably sell beer to, what do you think?"

Sarah rolled her eyes and sighed impatiently: "You and your beer. Sometimes I think we should buy you a brewery to cover all your wishes."

Andrea and Tim chuckled but quickly covered their mouths. Sarah gave them an impatient look and turned to John again: "OK, we'll go our own way now and we could meet at the ski lift at … when would it suit you?"

John shrugged: "I don't know. Let's say about 2pm, but should we want to finish earlier or later, I'll give you a call. Right?"

Sarah nodded and saw that also Tim and Andrea followed her example. She couldn't help but notice how Cameron gazed at John with unmistakable adoration in her eyes. Yeah, like she'd ever go against John's wishes. She shook her head to chase such thoughts away and turned to Derek: "So, Derek, shall we? The young ones are going their way and we're going ours." She stood up and before turning towards the exit, she turned towards the teenagers: "Have a really good day, guys."

"We will, mom, we most definitely will!" John grinned from ear to ear and squeezed Cameron even tighter to his hip.

TBC