Time to rise.
The morning sun, generous and scintillating, beamed through the window of their room.
Janet opened her eyes and found herself cozy inside the covers. Nude, lying so peacefully in bed, slowly energized by a curiosity initiated from a distinct delight induced through her honeyed hair, which had fallen in tiny waterfalls and spread throughout her face on her last memory formed, before cuddling and resting with Frank.
Frank! It clicked perfectly, in pure, unbridled calm. As soon as she captured the view before her, she was gleefully struck with her awareness of his gestures. The tender touch of his fingers as he brushed her luscious locks, caressed them, tucked a few strands behind her ear and twirled some others idly, like it was naturally healing for him to maintain this simple contact with her. His piercing green hues were watching her features with a look she could only recognize as incomparably enamored.
With a subtle little laugh that turned out noticeable enough for the man, she drew attention to the fact she was awake, and now... watching him. He gasped and stammered.
"Oh, I- that was sudden! Didn't predict you'd open your eyes..."
"Funny. Seems that the artist is very happy with the... details in his garden. How will Monet ever compareto him? His head's in the clouds", she teasingly remarked.
"Ha ha ha, I shouldn't be laughing this much at you spoiling the fun! Really, Janet... well, I'm sorry I woke you up. Uh, but no! Not really sorry", he laughed even more, "you're beautiful."
"That much, yeah? Good, good", she tittered in a sultry whisper, "so you just couldn't wait until I woke up too to admire me."
His hues grew large and his bottom lip trembled as he shyly tried to justify:
"I- I could've waited! I just... felt it wouldn't disturb your good rest being quiet, playing with your hair. Uh, what..? You looked so, so pretty, and I wanted-"
His sentence was not finished — Janet drew an arm behind him, pulled him to her by the back of his head, her rose-colored mouth pressed heatedly against his as he was held still. She nibbled at his bottom lip, carefully, then released it to go for a proper kiss with tongue. Again, this taste of cherry that made him insanely famished, combined with her natural scent as an aftershock of their wild night together. They both remained there, bodies lying down as lazily as one briefly remains when dawn arrives, while a greater rush of energy coursed through their kiss.
"Hmph... whoa. Great!", he blurted out, blushing profusely as she let go.
"Hey, joke's on you, I couldn't imagine a better way to wake up. Having you that sweet. Captivated, even. So, you don't need to be sorry, I was messing with you!"
"Oh, yeah? So that's what it was. You... you mean you wouldn't mind if I, hypothetically, of course... were to do that every single morning to you in case we lived together", he crossed his arms.
"Sounds like it would be fun."
"Then you should thank me, sweetheart! Can you guess how many times I've felt like doing this in my life before? None. This is new. Where's my 'thank you, Frank, for admiring me and waking me up with love'? Huh. I'm waiting."
"Oh. Demanding that now? A pity it doesn't work with me, my dearest. Plus, you got your kiss already."
"Fine, your rule is the rule. But here's mine... one more then", he exclaimed, holding her chin and smooching her gently.
"Good. Now that we've had enough, I wanted to go to a place with you, do you want us to go?"
The young lady lifted herself to sit, and the dark-haired man copied the movements before he spoke.
"Wait. Wait here just for a bit, Janet, I need to say something... about you."
"Why, sure, please do."
"I've had a beautiful dream last night... the best dream of my life."
"This sounds fantastic! I got to hear about that one."
"I was outside of a castle. A beautiful castle. There was this enchanting garden, I felt at peace being there and it's... unlike any place I've been to before. Not only because it's bright and huge."
"Oh. Lovely, lovely! I wish I'd be there, in a beautiful place. What else did you appreciate in your dream?"
"That's the best detail I'll get at. You... you were there indeed. With me. We sat down so close..."
With eyelids blinking rapidly, Janet tried to access the core longings of his soul.
"Oh... hey, I want to hear it, look at me, love. Tell me all."
"Sure, sure. Just let me recollect it to start..."
The memories were drawn again, and he told her each and every detail. Even of how, when they found their spot to sit alone...
Her hair seemed slightly uncontrollable, yet attractively flowy with the determined breeze rearranging and delicately running through it. The sun fell upon her golden hair, then evidenced its shade wonderfully. He watched, chuckled by her side and made a little comment on the urge to touch the strands, to touch this sun, which was followed by his amusing surprise at how she lept at him for a warm hug, in vast eagerness. Wrapping his own arms around her in response, he tried to whisper something to her, but the emotion stirred stopped him and he settled for a kiss on the side of her face.
She proceeded to asked him, among the flowers and in front of the imposing castle, what he'd think of her staying for him, forever. Making this their constant. He seemed to be unable to choose smiling or crying in all the happiness, so he did both and finally whispered, begged for her to please, please stay by his side, always. Please soothe him with the reliability it'd be to have her. Forever sounded tremendously sweet. She took his hand, placed it over her hair, told him yes, yes, yes. Her lips blessed his with a firm kiss.
So he woke up.
The young woman seemed moved in endless nature by his words.
"You felt this happy because... because you'd be with me?"
"Yes. Always."
"Oh... and so you already opened your eyes wanting to go and touch my hair. Frankie, I lov... hey, Frankie, your eyes. Misty... do you feel like crying?"
"Yeah. Hope you don't mind that."
"I don't mind it, no worries about it, dear. But why are you..?"
"You don't understand because I hadn't clarified yet. This is... my first good dream since years, Janet, probably a decade, darling. And, completely thanks to you... I've achieved that again."
"I-! That's a painful wait to have endured, I know it is, but you did it! I'm so happy. I'm gonna cry with you...", she sobbed, her arms pulling him in so they'd be cozily entwined from where they sat. Salty tears were the thing he first tasted, dribbling from his dewy emerald eyes, down into his heated cheeks. The second thing was, again, the taste of cherry on her lips that she locked with his.
"Seems I was more fortunate than you", he sighed to her regretfully as the embrace ended.
"In what sense?"
"Having good dreams, right? I wish I could make you have a good one of the same intensity too. You had that nightmare the other night we were together."
With an empathetic smile, she placed her hand on his shoulder.
"I thank you for wishing that. But I've been having good dreams here and now. Not rare. Plus... after that one time you held me, I dream of very good things often. Haven't been sharing them, but I can anytime you want to. But you know what matters the most?"
"W... what?"
"You've been sleeping without any good dreams for long. Now, you've had one again which proves you still can. And I... I am actually happy whenever I think of the night I woke from a bad dream."
"You are? Whoa, that confuses me, honey, but you do have motives, no?"
"Sure I do. You know... you'd behaved so eager when we'd have our friendly conversations and warm laughs. And after I woke up there, you made me feel... at home. Resting all over you, and your arms held me so tight, you spoke and comforted me. I feel happy when I relive the rain. Your words. Our even breaths, so soothing, your body as my pillow under my hands, close."
He mewled. It seemed charming and gladdening that she recalled those events with precision, and... withlove. Love for him.
His voice had a hint of a husky tone emanating from the flurry conquering his body:
"I love thinking of how I felt then. I'm fairly certain it's what made me connect things. My feelings... your affection... you... me.Us. I realized how I needed you, how clear it is. God, do I love you. It's so gratifying! I love you, Janet. I love you and I adore you."
"I am going... going to... cry until I'm late to go!", she bellowed with ardent contentment and brushed the side of her face against his to release the emotion. "I love you, Frank. You are my best company, my most beloved and worthy of all my adoration."
Humming through the friction of their faces, the Transylvanian cupped her face in one hand, moved to kiss her forehead. This made her smile. She handed his corset.
They helped each other dress up for another day together. Janet had told him, they'd go somewhere quiet, where looks don't draw focus.
Her in her long yellow gown, him in his navy blue corset. Their hands joined, they fled the place and passed the entrance, stepping out into the streets with her lead. They spotted a few peculiar, winsome places, they'd personally love to step by during the walk. Clothes, food, furniture, jewelry. Taking the chance, the Transylvanian stopped by, still not completely done with the money he'd received from Dr Scott, and bought a few beauty products so he could touch up his makeup — good time to relutantly thank his rival. Janet would not have to spend anything from the great amount he'd given her.
The blonde took an unexpected curve, straying from the cobbled floor, and made them stop at the front of a small forest. There was a tiny wooden gate, which she opened, revealing a tree swing. A large amount of sweet-scented flowers surrounded the place and decorated the ropes connecting the swing to the tree where it was built. A few wildflowers, accompanied by lilies, marguerite daisies, peonies, forget-me-nots, small roses.
"What's this, dear? So beautiful", he mused lovingly.
"You think so? I made it."
"Oh! You did?"
"Yes! Years ago. I used to visit here and build this. It was my biggest, happiest escape. A hideaway from my problems, and no one was aware I'd do this. You are the first person to make me company here."
"You've had your own purposes and inventions. I admire that. I am... I am the same. Want me to help you out on swinging?"
"Sure!"
"Please sit down then, I'll help you", he said, helping her into the swing seat. She grasped tightly to the ropes and he pushed her with the most attentive, meticulous hands. She giggled, playful.
"I love it! But I can take it faster..."
"Can you now? There you go", he smirked and retorted, his sense of humor now daring enough to make her go higher and incline herself further from the floor, lifting her legs and kicking her feet. Through the merriment, her hair strands turned loose and her locks fell down her shoulders beautifully, it was worthy of admiration... and soon, that state caused the rose adorning her hair to fall over the grass. She wheezed and shook her head.
"This was fun, ha ha ha, but now my hair looks a bit messy. Not that I mind it much. But my rose..."
"Oh, no, I am sorry. But I can fix that in a second! Stay there..."
She raised an eyebrow, yet obliged. He picked a few of the flowers on the ground and arranged them together into a circular shape through the stems, forging an intricate flower crown in light shades, green leaves increasing its beauty. The young lady gaped.
"Gorgeous! Ah... so pretty. I didn't know you did those so well!"
"I love them. Always have been good at arranging them, if I say so myself. Now, would you lower your head, darling?"
"Yeah, go on", she whispered, and lowered her head so the man would kneel before her, place the flower crown on top of her head. She was the most majestic person for a coronation.
"My queen", he sighed.
"Bow to me. Ha ha."
"Already kneeling, but..." he inclined his head to bow, whispering a meek 'Your Majesty' that had her bright and joyful.
"Want me to help you apply your brand new makeup?"
"Ah, not a want, but a need."
"Sit on the swing", she said, getting up and leaving him room to occupy her spot. As he settled down, she took his chin and inspected his features before taking a hold of her purse, where he'd kept his eyeshadow palette, pencil, face powder and lipstick.
She began applying the eyeshadow, a baby blue shade that looked perfect and dear in contrast with his piercing green eyes and pale skin. The feel of her fingers was, simply put, unforgettable — Heaven's sake, he'd never apply it himself without a thought of these seconds lurking.
She painted his thin eyebrows with the pencil, the prodding from it a pleasing stimulus. Lastly, his lips — colored in amaranth by the lipstick, their reddish-rose looked as beautiful as to almost tempt her to undo all her work in a feverish taste of them. With the traces outlined, she could add the powder to his face, making him modestly giggle through it. All the makeup done, she put the cosmetics back into the purse.
Their following act was to rest on the grass, with her knees touching the ground to sit and his head resting on her lap as he decided to lie down, her looking at him sweetly from above, both staying face to face. She cooed.
"You have no idea how pretty you look watching me from below."
"Not even close to the sightyou'reproviding. Trust me! Makes me wanna consider things I... shouldn't be considering now", the scientist said as he cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Aw. What could those things be? Open up, hm, you want me to get naughty with you?"
His pulse accelerated at the concept, but it was not what he longed for the most. It was something far more stable, consistently lasting.
"N-no... I like your idea, Janet! But really. It's not that."
"So what do you want to do when you look at me?"
I want to marry you.
"I am... going to save that for a different hour. For now, I'll be happy in wonder to admire you."
"And I'll do the very same to you. We're dressed to impress, nearly royal even! I demand we should dance", she affirmed.
"Oh. Well. I... sure! I just wonder if I'm that good at it. We'll see."
"What does that mean, dear, when you've always been dancing and swaying around?"
"Yeah, you're right, but I meant it's different than that. Not individually. Dancing with you... I've never danced with someone in a pair. As a couple."
"Y-you're joking! I always took you as someone who'd at least done it a few times... don't worry though, that's not a problem. I'll teach you."
"You will? Wait, in that case. As much as I love here, I know of somewhere that would feel adequately fabulous to try", he smiled.
The look she gave him was glimmering with mischief as she took his hand and he guided them to their next little escapade. The path taken resulted in the sight of an impressive Victorian house, surrounded by a few bushes and containing several towers on the exterior. A few large windows were also observed by Janet, and the building in its entirety seemed so winsome and wonderful to her, she was the first to walk in its direction, however, keeping Frank close behind to help her if necessary.
She looked and smiled at him inquisitively once wanting to open the door, and he nodded kindly. She went in, strutted through the clear marble floor and her awe was audible through the echoing walls.
"It's... it's amazing! Frank... the illumination", she squealed and shook her fists, an enthusiast for the round crystal chandeliers lit up by numerous candles in golden, royal tones. A long stair with wrought handrails could be seen on the right corner from where they paced closely. There were candelabra spread through piecrust tables, shining their light broadly. One hook was fitting for her to place her purse, walk with hands free.
The man took one hand of hers and aided her through the place, taking her to somewhere with a dimension and a spacious comfort she marveled at: a huge ballroom.
Although the light of the day was still coloring outside, a remarkable thing she noticed was that the ceiling was wholly painted in the shades of a night sky, countless ivory and yellow sparkly stars gracing the art.
"This is why you wanted us to be here", she declared in a low, mesmerized tone.
"Exactly. I've been here many times, and I must tell you... it was formerly this humble mansion, but abandoned for years. I reformed it to be my extra private place, no one would enter but me. I've always been attracted to places of this kind, kept thinking of what a regal lifestyle must've provided in challenge of the worst parts... aside from war, unpleasant secrets, vanity in the smaller circles... I was drawn to the prettier side that is passed on through stories. My mind goes to better encounters, to people that gathered from all lands. To the good that must've transpired between familiar strangers during balls. Where they'd meet and feel carefree enough to eat together, exchange smiles, talk and dance. And then it goes to the ceiling here... to the stars. And how I'd wanted to defy anything if I could only find what, who, I'd been looking for to admire them with. It seemed like a good escapism from the gloomy atmosphere that was a constant for me. No one hardly guessed I used to leave only to visit here and daydream that things could be easier than I made them be."
Her hues flickered and her smile had a mournful hint when she swallowed hard and spoke.
"That's bittersweet to me. It's beautiful that you had a place of your own to comfort yourself. I know I've done the same. I've stared at the stars and spent nights up for long. But with so many people you could request... why didn't you ever ask for company?"
"That's simple to answer, I don't think anyone I've known since then could understand this part of me. Besides, that's all there was to my corner: a dream. Not feasible to concretize as far as I allowed myself to believe in the past. And I used to walk through the halls alone. Thinking to myself... 'this is the kind of place for a person to bring their most special someone to join them'. Never did I believe, though, I'd find mine."
That did the trick. Relief gave her a bold grin.
"You did though. No matter the time we lived distantly and gazed at the stars alone, we're here now. Under the same starry sky", the blonde nodded and reinforced the care of her words with a kiss on his cheek. He chuckled and dragged her by both hands to the center of the room, one of his hands then meeting her waist and curling around it, one of hers finding support on his shoulder, so they earnestly grasped and joined their free hands.
He heard Janet whisper, "I'll teach you".
She airily advanced for the first step with her left foot, nodded at him and said "your opposite", certifying it was easy for him to comprehend exactly how to follow her lead and step behind with his right foot. Soon, the timing was flawless for them to move in synchrony, and they did turns as they stepped further from their initial positions, waltzing through the entire decorated marble floor.
Her hair looked inviting for him to touch, as it bounced vaguely, flowing with the flower adornment he'd made her only giving it an even more cherubical aspect. He smiled widely, and she reciprocated it. His confidence arising, he let go of his partner's arm — his hand raised, caught hers and she spun around, in a lightness that had him blushing in fondness. Her dress swayed along. With their dance progressing, she would draw closer and tighten her grasp. He leaned into her, her responsiveness guiding her to lean back, her grace for the curvature reminiscent of a slim animal's charming motions in the water, swanlike.
As they slowed down smoothly, both of her arms found stability above his shoulders and she pulled him in to capture his lips with serenity. He lost all daily tensions in his rationale, only his reassured feelings driving him to prolong and return her kiss.
"I love you", she whispered, her keen glance wandering from the lips she'd kissed to his wide eyes.
"I love you, too."
"What is it that you wanted to tell me? Do you feel maybe now could be a better moment?"
"Oh, yes, about that", Frank replied as he ran his fingers through her hair, "I want..."
Abruptly, a longcase clock chimed sonorously in the corner of the room, drawing their attention to the hour. Janet stroked the strands near the nape of his neck.
"Frank. It's time to go! The others will be waiting for us to return very soon. Remember, we'll all check out of the hotel today."
"Y-yeah! Very well noted. We should leave."
"I'll grab my purse back at the entrance."
So she did. And they walked through the doors, she walked ahead and he tagged along.
He knew that what they shared was now reaching an inevitable end. His brain threatened him to think otherwise whenever they'd kiss or whenever she gave him that hearty look, but by all his common sense, he had concluded already that this was not a sign she'd want to run away from her purposes with him. She'd have to follow the life she had planned, and she'd done much more for him than he'd ever asked for anyone to do. He would be able to begin living again, lead an actual life thanks to her, all those days served him well to introduce the right track. This was more than sufficient, yes, it alleviated, gladdened him. He loved her, loved her truly, but as this reality was closer and closer, he did not feel the invincible pain he expected. There was hurt and there was the hardship of his heart to let it go, but that did not prevail. He did not have that in mind when he looked at her.
Only thankfulness. Regard.
Adoration.
"Hey, now, Janet?" He called. She turned around and stopped. He continued, grinning.
"Thank you for helping me live."
A playful curtsy was her instant acknowledgment. Her gesture that followed along was the most stunning smile anyone had ever shone.
"Thank you, Frank, for being in my life."