Chapter 4

Prompt: Person B is smiling shyly, cheeks tingling pink, because they were caught staring at person A.

"You're staring, Jess."

Seth's words caught her by surprise. "Am I?" She could feel her cheeks warming, and she tried to arrange her face into something approximating her normal expression when it came to him. "I suppose I'm just glad to see you up and about."

"Hmph." Seth turned to face the ocean. "I was never in any real danger."

"Now Seth, you know that's not true!" She came up beside him. "You don't know what it was like, watching you in that hospital bed, when we weren't sure..."

Seth put an arm around her and gave her a bracing squeeze. "I'm here now, woman. No need to dwell on the past."

Jessica nodded, her lips clamped together in an effort to control her emotions. She'd thought Seth might die after eating that poisoned apple, of all things. Waiting for Seth to regain consciousness after that terrible episode had given her plenty of time to reflect. No, that wasn't quite true, she admitted to herself. It had forced her to face the feelings she'd kept under lock and key, to belabor the whole fairy tale quality of that episode. She'd tried to deny it, even going so far as to pretend to herself that she would be working that morning instead of fishing with Seth. Even then, she couldn't bring herself to tell him how she really felt. But she'd have to tell him soon. He'd caught her staring at him, again. If it happened once more, she thought he might insist she come in for a check-up, a thought that made her heart flutter in a not entirely unpleasant way.

"Shall we?" and Seth turned to offer her his arm. "It's getting a mite brisk up here. I think we'd be happier walking." He looked at her curiously. "You usually are. In fact, you usually set the pace and I struggle to keep up, if I'm being honest." He looked at Jessica shrewdly. "Jess, what's bothering you?"

"I don't know what you mean."

"You've been distant, preoccupied, ever since I got out of the hospital." He squeezed her hand. "Those docs gave me a clean bill of health, Jess, and I've told you I'm alright. Now, what's bothering you? Out with it!"

Jessica turned from him. She hadn't planned on ever telling Seth that her feelings for him had changed. She could see that he was comfortable and happy with the way his life was arranged. Telling him would only cause awkwardness, and she couldn't bear to lose their friendship. Although she enjoyed her life as JB Fletcher, it wasn't real...not in the way her life in Cabot Cove was. She needed Seth to keep her grounded, to keep her from getting the dreaded "big head" that all of Cabot Cove (with the exception of Seth) had warned her against after her first novel was published. He seemed to know, intuitively, that JB Fletcher was a bit of a persona, something akin to a role she played. Certainly JB included elements of the real Jessica, but it was also something of a mask. It enabled her to keep those lives separate. It wasn't something she'd set out to do, but she could see now, especially having had a run-in with Eudora, how useful that delineation was. Cabot Cove grounded her. Seth grounded her. With him, she could be herself, but she could also indulge in those elements of JB's lifestyle that she enjoyed, like the improvements to her clothing and general appearance, experimenting with fine food and wines, travel.

"Jess, you're starting to worry me. Where did you go?"

She shook herself from her reverie. "Oh don't mind me, Seth. Sometimes inspiration strikes and I just lose myself in the idea. Come on!" She jerked her chin towards the path and started walking double-time. "I need to get back to my typewriter so I don't lose it!"

Seth watched for a moment, a curious expression on his face. She'd been...different...towards him since he'd been released from the hospital. She cared for him, he knew. Theirs was a genuine friendship built on years of trust and camaraderie. He'd been careful to hide his deepening feelings for her. He began walking fast to catch up with her. Who knew? Maybe seeing him in the hospital had triggered memories of Frank's illness and death. Perhaps that's what had her so unsettled. Whatever it was, she wasn't willing to talk about it today. He'd give her a little space and try again.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

A few days later...

"I thought there might be something wrong the other day, Jess." She looked at him uncomprehendingly. "When we were hiking? And you just kind of blanked out for a few minutes?" Seth started to look alarmed. "You don't remember?"

"I remember," hedged Jessica. She needed an excuse and fast. "I was just thinking is all. You know how I get sometimes."

"A-yuh," agreed Seth, "I do, but this seemed different to me Jess." He looked down at his hands. "I've been a little worried."

"Worried?" she squeaked. "Over me? No need."

He looked up and pointed at her. "There. Right there. You're hiding something from me, Jess. I know you are. What is it?"

"Nothing!" she protested as honestly as she could, given she was attempting to hide a very big secret from him.

Seth was beginning to look angry. "You've been spending quite a bit more time in New York."

Jessica looked perplexed. What had that to do with anything? "I suppose so," she replied neutrally. This might be just the out she needed.

"I imagine New York is a great deal more exciting than Cabot Cove." That's obvious, thought Seth acidly. What was it the her niece said the other day? Duh, I think. Yes, definitely duh. "I mean, there are more people there. Different people. More to do." Now he was starting to sound foolish, but if she was hiding what he was afraid she might be hiding...

"The city can be exciting, but Cabot Cove has its charms as well."

"Ha! Like what? What charms does Cabot Cove have that could possibly compare to New York City? Loretta's Beauty Shop? The diner? Don't tell me it's our community theatre. You couldn't say it with a straight face after that dreadful performance of Streetcar you dragged me to last month."

Jessica couldn't help but laugh. They had had a difficult time not giggling during the famous scene where Stanley Kowalski hollers for Stella. Somehow, Harry Pierce just didn't have the same animal magnetism as Brando. They'd contained their mirth until they were safely ensconced in Seth's car, where Seth proceeded to holler "Stella" and they ended up clutching their stomachs from laughing. Jessica did feel a twinge of guilt over that, and she came over pensive. "I do feel a bit guilty over that. I oughtn't to have laughed. So hard, at least. It can't be easy, performing on stage." She looked up at Seth and smiled, but curiously he seemed even more agitated.

"Jess," he muttered. "If you have something you need to tell me, that you're afraid to tell me, just do it. Just tell me and get it over with. I can take just about anything."

"What on earth are you talking about Seth? I don't have anything that earth-shattering to report." Ha! Not earth-shattering, but maybe friendship-shattering.

"I don't believe you. You go away for weeks at a time. I hardly hear from you. I have to read the papers to find out what you're up to. And it's usually some fancy occasion where you're on the arm of some handsome, successful gentleman. You call me when you need a ride home from the airport-"

"But you told me that you liked picking me up from the airport!"

"I do, but that's beside the point. I guess you'll have another ride from the airport now."

"Seth, what are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about what it is you're afraid to tell me! You're hiding something. You've been dancing around it for weeks now. You probably feel guilty since I was in the hospital after eating that poisoned apple that was meant for you. Well, let me tell you something, JB Fletcher!" He pointed at her chest. "You don't have to feel guilty over anything. You can go off with whomever you like! It's none of my concern. Just leave me out of it!"

By now, Jessica's temper was up. "Well, that would be pretty hard to do, Seth Hazlitt, since the man I'm in love with is you!" And she pointed her finger at him.

"Of all the-wait. What?"

Jessica was horrified and almost clamped her hand over her mouth, though what good that would do now..."Oh dear," she whispered. She wished the floor would swallow her whole.

"Jessica," and Seth's voice was much softer now. "Did you mean what you just said? Do you really love me?"

She forced herself to look him in the eye. She had courage, and she wouldn't pretend she hadn't just blurted out that she was in love with him. But it was a struggle. "I meant what I said, Seth," she replied as calmly as she could.

"You love me? Well, that's very convenient, woman, as I happen to love you, too. I have done for many years."

"Oh, Seth," she breathed. "Really?"

"Doubting me already?" he teased. "This isn't a promising start to our love affair."

Jessica looked at him, a playful smile on her face. "And what could I possibly do to make it up to you?"

"Let's start with a kiss and go from there."

Jessica stared into his eyes and saw the love and yes, desire, that she felt reflected there. She leaned in to kiss him, tentatively at first. It had been a long time since she'd properly kissed a man. She might be a little out of practice, but she thought that was one problem that would take care of itself.

A/N: I think I'm just addicted to inventing what I hope are fun, fluffy ways to get Seth and Jessica together.