Eve stood upon a rock, looking down at the lake beneath her.
She had not counted how many times the sun had risen and set since she had met Adam, or Jehovah. She only knew that she was happy with them. They roamed far and wide together, the three of them, Jehovah in his mild, placid manner pointing out wonderful new things and creatures to them, telling them their names and habitats. She loved them both so much: she idolized Jehovah, whom she thought was wonderful, with his knowledge and kindness and patience and steadfastness. Adam idolized him too, and hung onto his every word, and tried to imitate him in everything he did. Sometimes the two youths would go off together, or she would take her leave of them. Jehovah did not take her adventuring as he would take Adam.
Her Adam. Oh, how she loved him! He was beautiful, exquisite, masculine, and hers. He complemented her so perfectly; she had been made for him, and he for her. She dove off the rock gracefully into the lake, and swam about before she made for the shore.
Jehovah was sitting there, waiting for her, and he was alone. He looked up and smiled his mild, wonderful smile as she approached.
"Jehovah!" she cried, embracing him, and he returned her embrace.
"How do you like the lake?" he asked her.
"It's nice," Eve answered. "Perfectly cool, and temperate. Would you like to try it?"
The expression in Jehovah's eyes flickered ever so slightly, and if Eve knew how to observe people, she might have noticed, but she did not know, and she was not burdened with the knowledge of those lesser things – yet. She was pulling at Jehovah now, trying to coax him into the water with her, and he was halfheartedly allowing her to tug him along.
"I don't swim well," he was now saying.
"Of course you do," Eve said, laughing, turning her brilliantly clear eyes to him. "You're Jehovah." They reached the edge of the lake, and with a joyous whoop from Eve, they both splashed in. Jehovah did a few speedy laps, and Eve tried to match him as best as she could; but her strength was lesser than his, despite her best efforts, and she retired to the shallower end of the lake to rest, gasping with exertion and exhilaration.
Jehovah swam over to her, and shook the water out of his eyes and hair. "Are you all right?" he asked her, rather contritely, putting a hand upon her wet shoulders.
"Yes," she said, when she had recovered sufficiently enough to speak. Jehovah smiled fondly at her, and she leant into his torso, thinking how nice and solid and firm he felt.
"You and Adam always outperform me in any sort of physical activity," she said, a little petulantly.
"That's because I designed you to be different from us," he answered, stroking her hair.
"Why?" she asked.
Jehovah did not answer immediately, but she could feel him stiffening a little, his hand in her wet hair now pausing, his shoulders taut, as if he were about to make a sudden movement. And of course this made her tense, too, his subtle discomfort passing to her, and she did not like this feeling. She could not fathom what she had said or done to make him like this.
"Let's swim over to the other side," he suggested, disengaging himself gently from her, and kissing the top of her head. "I'll let you have a head start."
And like that, everything was right again. Eve's expression cleared and she plunged back into the water with delight. Jehovah trod water as he watched her streaking through the water, her strokes deft and decisive. He let her have more of a head start than he intended to, before setting out himself. It was easy for him to catch up to her, though, and they emerged together on the other side, both breathless and flushed and happy.
"I've never been here before," Eve said, pushing the wet hair out of her eyes. They had swum to a cove-like place encircled by rocks. Jehovah hauled himself out of the water and sat down on one of them, and Eve did the same. Both of them gazed out, beyond the cove and westwards towards the horizon, where the sea extended endlessly, the glimmering rays of the setting sun lighting up the waves.
"It's beautiful," gasped Eve, who had no eyes for anything but the breathtaking view that stretched before them. Jehovah said nothing, although a very slight smile curved his lips when she spoke. He watched her, then his gaze turned to the sea, then back to her again. He marked her look of joy and the way her eyes were lit up, her long locks and her wet skin glistening and indeed the way her entire being seemed to be suffused by the light of the dying sun, and the expression in his eyes changed, and he slipped back into the water.
Eve turned, but she did not question his departure, for he did that all the time - he would come and go at his whim, and she did not find it strange, nor think to question it or him. So she did not notice anything out of the ordinary, and her attention turned back to the lingering sunset - the sun itself seemed loth to depart this pristine, beautiful young world, even though it would return again the next day.
She heard the sound of someone swimming towards her, and her first thought was that Jehovah had returned, but then she turned and saw that it was her Adam, her beloved Adam, and she gave a cry of delight and dived into the water, and they embraced.
"Did Jehovah tell you to find me here?" she asked him.
"No, he didn't," Adam said. "I searched for you for such a long time, but here you are."
"This place is beautiful," she said.
"Not as beautiful as you," Adam said, and he kissed her. He did not know why, but it seemed like eons had passed since he had seen Eve, touched her or smelt her, and he missed her and desired her more than ever. They laid themselves upon the rocks, and he gazed down at her with admiration and love, barely heeding the splendour surrounding them, and Eve gazed back at him in equal passion. The sun had now set and the young night sky was so black it was indigo, and the pale, evanescent light of the half moon cast its silver glow upon their bodies. Adam thought that Eve looked perfect. He kissed her again, and pushed himself into her, and they did not think of anything or anyone else.
A/N: Sorry yet again for the horrifically late chapter update, and not a very long chapter at that. I haven't forgotten about this story, but have been working ever since I posted my last chapter. Nothing like real life commitments to harsh one's buzz. This chapter's a bit shorter because things will start building up from this point. I really appreciate everyone who took the time to read and review this story, and thank you all for the very kind comments!
