A/N: Thanks for all the great feedback and follows! I didn't know what the internet situation would be like when I'm out of town, so I kind of couldn't wait to post this. This chapter is probably one of my favorite things I've ever written, just because it captures a normal, cute little life moment, and I don't usually write fluffy things like that. This chapter is a flashback to teenage Raura. It'll be a little while before I can update again, but hopefully the cuteness will tide you over until then. Enjoy and tell me how much you liked it!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything, not the show, not the characters, not the songs. I am not affiliated with nor have I ever met anyone depicted in this fictional story. Song credits to R.E.M. I do not own Game of Thrones.

Rating: M for language and themes

Times Like These

2: these things, they go away, replaced by everyday

Nightswimming deserves a quiet night
I'm not sure all these people understand
It's not like years ago,
The fear of getting caught,
Of recklessness and water

-Nightswimming, R.E.M.

He looked out the window to see her timidly put her toe in the water. She jerked back quickly, the frigid water surprising her. The look on her face was classic scared Laura. He had to laugh.

She must have heard him because she whipped her head around and placed her hands on her hips, staring right at him.

"Are you going to join me, or are you just going to stand there?"

He watched as she peeled off her tank top and jeans, folding everything neatly and placing the articles of clothing carefully on the pool loungers. She wore a matching purple bra and boy short underwear set, claiming that this covered as much if not more than her swimsuit did. He honestly didn't care what the justification was, his mouth just gaped at the way her ass looked, so perfectly hugged in that very thin lacy piece of fabric.

It was like, damn.

He had no idea how he had convinced his girlfriend to go swimming with him without her swimsuit, but he thought it might be his best idea ever.

Girlfriend.

He fucking loved the sound of that.

He was so incredibly high from the feeling she gave him; he couldn't believe they were really together. It was insane. He could have never imagined how fucking unbelievable happy he was all the time. He woke up with a smile on his face, he went to bed with a smile on his face. This had been the best summer of his life. It had only been a few short weeks since he'd taken her to the prom, and they'd been inseparable since. He'd spent as much time with her as possible between his constant touring schedule and her photoshoots and events. Even though he was exhausted all the time, it was totally worth it.

They had to get in as much time as they could since he was leaving for Puerto Rico to shoot Teen Beach Movie 2 in a few short weeks. He didn't even want to think about being away from her for the 6 weeks he'd be there, but she'd already planned a trip to visit him, at the hesitancy of her parents, who finally agreed once Vanessa had volunteered to chaperone her. At least he had that to look forward to, but it felt like it would be forever until then. So he had to enjoy this while he had the chance.

She was right, her underwear covered up more than her bikini typically did, but damn it if she didn't look so much hotter in this. Maybe it was the moonlight, maybe it was because they were finally alone, but she looked so unbelievably sexy to him at that moment. She jumped in with a splash, as he ran out to join her.

She splashed him, "Come in, the water's great."

He gave her a wide grin and run into a cannonball. He emerged, shaking his hair and spraying her with water.

"Ross!" she held her hand out to shield herself.

He dove towards her, but she slipped underwater, reappearing at the other length of the pool in seconds. He raced after her, and being the expert swimmer he was, he caught up to her easily. She kicked out of his reach, and rose to the surface, but he had her cornered against the wall. He grabbed ahold of her leg and slipped right up to her, pressing his body against hers.

"Gotcha."

She pushed his head underwater.

"Hey!" he yelped, shaking his wet locks in her face.

Her eyes shone, the reflection of the water rippling sparkles into her dilated pupils. "Hey yourself." Their faces were close, their breath ragged from the impromptu race.

He touched her cheek slowly with his hand and her eyes closed, the look on her face of pure ecstasy. He wanted to remember this forever. He tucked a strand of her wet hair behind her ear, then slowly leaned his cheek in, until both their cheeks were touching. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he enveloped his around her tiny body, like all of the countless hugs they'd shared in the past. He felt her deep quick breaths tickle his ear. She was nervous. He liked that he still made a shiver go up her spine.

With the slightest of movements, he shifted so that his lips just grazed hers. The pressure was delicate, soft, but increased as her mouth opened to let his tongue gain entrance. He couldn't even process what was happening as his tongue and hers danced a slow tango. Their kiss deepened quickly and even though he didn't want to break, his lungs won the battle for a breath. He reluctantly separated them, his hands still cupping her face, as both of their chests rose and fell heavily.

She closed in for another kiss, starting to move them towards the sidewall of the pool. He felt the back of her legs hit the edge as she repositioned herself on the bottom step, without breaking their kiss. This gave her a slight height advantage over him, but he didn't mind. He tilted his chin up towards her, as she feathered light kisses over his cheek and jaw.

He fisted his hands in her hair bringing her lips back to his as she slightly nipped at her lower lip. He felt her tongue slide over his teeth to find his again and he sighed in content.

"Wow," she breathed, flopping herself backwards to sit on the middle step.

God help him.

"What time does the movie end?" she asked, out of breath.

He groaned. "Probably soon."

His entire family had left to go to the movies, leaving the two alone, which in his mind was not a great parenting idea on Mark and Stormie's part, but who was he to judge? He was sure it was because they knew Laura was responsible, and even left to their own devices, the two of them wouldn't be having sex in the two hours the family was gone. They were right.

"I'm starting to get all pruny," she declared as she climbed out of the pool. He tried to not let his eyes wander to the water dripping off her backside, but it wasn't working. He followed suit and grabbed two towels, wrapping one around himself, then wrapping the other around her. She shivered and he ran his hands down her arms a few times.

She licked her lips, and shook out her soaking wet hair.

"You're so pretty," he commented.

"Aww, you're not so bad yourself, handsome," she returned, standing on her tiptoes to give him a quick peck. His lips quickly found the skin of her neck, gingerly placing kisses along her collarbone, his tongue licking at the hollow in the crook of her neck.

"We should go and dry off inside," she whispered as he groaned into her skin again. "As much as I love your parents and your brothers and sister, I really don't want them seeing me in my underwear."

"Yeah, over my dead body will my brothers ever see you like this," he growled protectively as he led her inside.

She emerged from bathroom wearing sweats and a t-shirt, her hair pulled into a loose ponytail. He idly flipped through the channels, not able to find anything he wanted to watch. He'd much rather watch her. She inspected the pictures on their mantle, stopping to pick up a frame.

"I love this picture," she sighed, holding it up for him to see.

It was their prom photo. They'd taken two, one normal one, and one funny one, and the latter had made it onto the Lynch display of family photos. She was pointing to him, laughing, as he pretended to take a bite out of her hair.

His phone pinged. "I just got a text from Ryland, they just got done and are getting some froyo."

"So, what we've got a good 15 miles, add another 20 minutes for eating time, subtract five minutes for the way your brother drives, and we should have another thirty minutes to ourselves."

"God, you're sexy when you're being all smart."

She smirked at him, moving closer until she was in front of him on the couch. Even sitting down, he was almost at eye level to her. He gripped her butt with his hands, kneading softly, drawing a surprised squeal. He looked up at her.

"What can we do in thirty minutes?"

"Hmm, I don't know…we can watch Game of Thrones…" she suggested, a smile playing on her lips.

He pulled her down onto his lap. "I can think of some games I want to play that don't involve the Lannisters."

"You are such a nerd."

"Oh, really? Coming from you, that's a compliment." His lips found hers again as time melted away.

"What are you saying," she pouted after coming up for air. "Are you calling me a dork again?"

He stopped mid-kiss and threw his hands in the air. "Adorkable, I meant adorkable! Am I ever going to live that down?"

"Nope. It's okay, I know how you really feel about me."

"Oh, do you?"

"Yup," she replied, popping the p. "I know you so well, I can read your thoughts. You are very predictable."

"Oh, can you? Maybe we are becoming psychic because you just sounded cocky, like me."

A horn sounded outside, startling the both of them. It was the not so subtle hint from one of his siblings that they were home. The two separated and sat beside each other on the couch to brace themselves for the arrival of his whole family.

"Hey, how's this for predictable?" he asked. She turned towards him, her eyebrow cocked. "I love you," he declared nonchalantly.

Her eyes widened and her jaw grew slack as the group came barreling into the room.

"You better not have started Games of Thrones without me," Ryland shouted, as his mother surveyed the scene.

"Hey guys, what are you up to?" she asked sweetly. His mom was so embarrassingly protective of him. And she was looking at the two of them real suspiciously.

"Not much, just watching some TV," he stated casually as Laura still appeared to be in shock.

"Are you okay, Laura? You look like you've seen a ghost or something."

She shook it off and smiled up at his mom. "No, Ross just told me a spoiler for the show, totally shocking. Had no idea that was going to happen…" she muttered.

Rocky plopped himself between the two and propped his feet up on the table. Riker grabbed the remote from Ross's hand and sat down beside him. Rydel joined Laura on the other side of the couch and Ryland picked a spot on the floor. Laura searched Ross's face for any sort of explanation or reaction or anything. She was completely nonplussed, but he avoided her eye contact, choosing just to smile and stare straight ahead instead.

That would teach her to think he was predictable.

He walked behind her as she walked to her new car, a shiny new BMW from her parents for graduation. He smiled as he thought of how they'd it christened it with a celebratory make out session the first time she drove him around. Once she was sure they were out of earshot from his family, she turned.

"What the heck was that, Ross?"

"What?" he played dumb.

"What you said in there, before we got interrupted."

"Oh, that you were starting to sound cocky."

She looked at him through her thick eyelashes.

"Oh, you mean the part where I said I love you." He took her hands into his, playing with them before meeting her eyes. "I meant it. I was just waiting for a good time to say it, and I figured using it to prove you wrong was perfect."

She let out a tiny snicker. He opened the car door for her as she slipped in. He gave her another peck on the lips, leaning all the way down to touch her lips. "Drive safe, text me when you get home."

He shut the door carefully and watched as she slowly drove around the cul-de-sac. He waved and turned, missing her as she rolled down the window.

"Hey!" she yelled out, trying to grab his attention.

He whipped his head around to see her smiling face. "I love you, too!"

He grinned, clutching his hands to his heart. He closed his eyes as he heard her car become more distant, hanging on to the moment, filing the memory into his head to be cherished forever.