Chapter Nineteen
Linka leant back against her boyfriend and sighed.
He snuggled her closer, "Everything ok?"
"Mmm, this is lovely." She smiled up at him and returned the light kiss he placed on her lips.
They hadn't walked far before their path had been barred by a rocky outcropping leading down to the sea. Instead of heading inland however, Wheeler had led them out towards the water, carefully picking his way around the rocks until they entered a small sandy cove. The private beach wasn't big enough for the five Planeteers but it made a perfect picnic spot for two, with the rocky incline on one side providing shade from the afternoon sun.
"Wanna go for a swim?" Wheeler asked, more out of something to say than any real desire to get in the water.
They'd finished their meal sometime before their happy chatter had dwindled into a comfortable silence.
"I did not think to wear a swimsuit," she replied apologetically, playing absently with his fingers. His arms were around her and she was leaning back against his chest, and she would probably have declined the swim in any case.
He kissed her neck, his voice teasing, "Neither did I."
"Yankee..." she began hesitantly.
Her discomfort made him wince, "I'm joking."
Linka took a breath, "Perhaps it is time we talk about it."
He sighed, "I was joking. Seriously."
Looking up at him then instead of continuing to stare out to sea, she smiled. "I know Lyubov, I did not mean it like that."
"What then?" Wheeler asked, dubious but willing to listen.
The Wind Planeteer took a moment to gather her thoughts, turning her gaze back to the calming ocean. "A year ago I did not believe a relationship with you was possible, but you have shown me that there is more than one answer, you challenge the way I look at the world."
"Er… that's a good thing… right?" he made her giggle.
"Da, it is." She promised, "But I have come to realise that I need to question the other things I took for granted as part of that, like whether or not I can have a physical relationship."
Wheeler rested his lips against her shoulder for a moment, letting her words sink in, and trying to find the correct response. After a moment or two he said, "You know I think we should test a few boundaries, but… I don't want you to do anything you don't want to do, especially not for me."
She hugged his arms against her, "It is for me too, for us. I do not want to spend the rest of our lives worrying that pushing things too far will come between us. I believe our relationship can stand it, although I am not saying we should rush into anything, I just wanted you to know what I was thinking."
"You're right," he conceded, "it's good to make sure we're on the same page. I guess I'm still a bit worried about doing something to screw things up, but… yeah, we can make it work."
Linka chuckled, "I did not say it would be easy. I know I will panic if I think about it too much, but at the same time, trying to surprise me will definitely not be a good idea."
Wheeler grinned, "I can work with that. I promise I'll be straight with you Babe, no tricks, no pressure… you'll see." Then he added quickly, "But not today, not for a while yet, we need more time as a couple."
"Ok." She tilted her lips up to kiss him, finding confidence in his assurances and the prospect of a shared future.
As twilight fell Wheeler and Linka made their way back to the Fire Planeteer's cabin. Their arms around each other, they chatted quietly, continuing a conversation that had ranged from pop culture and music to politics and religion.
Linka was a still little surprised that more disagreements hadn't flared up over the course of the afternoon, but it made her realise that they'd actually settled their differences a long time ago. It helped too that living on Hope Island had given them both a different perspective. Of course, some of the less important debates, such as who was the best Starship Captain were too much fun to give up on, especially when they generally devolved into tickling, kissing or both.
"Maybe I should check that Nat and Gi have everything they need." Linka said uncertainly as they reached his door. "I could start dinner too if you like, although it is a little early?"
Wheeler put the picnic basket down and turned so that she was looking up at him from the circle of his arms. "Let's watch a movie before we start dinner... Yes, 'we'." He added the last because she'd silently mouthed the word, while rolling her eyes.
"Ok," she laughed, her tone still teasing.
He kissed her nose, "I think its ok to check in on the babysitter though."
"Do not let either of them hear you say that," she laughed again, and pressed a brief but tender kiss to his lips, "I will not be long."
He released her and didn't object when she picked up the basket, intending to return it to the kitchen. "I'll set up the movie."
"No horror." She called back over her shoulder, otherwise content for him to pick the film.
Linka expected to find the other females of their group in the common room, but checked the lab and games rooms first anyway since they were on the way. They weren't in any of them. Trying not to overreact, but thinking it was too late for them to be at the playground, she headed for the kitchen... hoping to find them there, but also wanting to drop off the remains of their lunch before she searched elsewhere.
She breathed a sigh of relief as she entered the kitchen, despite the mess spread over the table and work surfaces.
Nat looked up beaming, her face smudged with flour, "We're making cookies."
"At this time of night?" Linka was more surprised than disapproving, but she still got a look from Gi.
"There is no bad time to make cookies," she started putting the doughy circles her charge had been cutting out on a baking tray. "Is your date over?"
Linka blushed, "Nyet, we are going to watch a movie... I just wanted to put this away first." She held up the picnic basket.
Gi grinned, "Go for it."
"Have you two had fun this afternoon?" Linka asked as she began her task.
"Yes." Nat answered immediately, "Gi told me all about dolphins and turtles and whales, and she says when you can come along, we can take the boat out so that I can see some, and maybe we can swim with the dolphins too?"
Linka wasn't too happy with her friend making promises for her but it was safe enough around Hope Island, and something they would probably have done at some point anyway so she smiled and agreed.
"Can we have sleepovers tonight?" Nat blurted out, not just surprising her relative, if Gi's face was anything to go by. "Please? Then Gi can tell me more about the sea and you and Wheeler can have a super long date."
Linka's face deepened in colour, "It is not fair to put Gi on the spot like that sweetheart, I am sure she would like some time to herself tonight..."
Nat hung her head and Gi gave her a hug, "I don't mind, it's been fun, but maybe I could put up an inflatable bed in your cabin and we could all have a girly night?"
The small child grinned at her gratefully and looked to Linka for approval.
The Wind Planeteer smiled but said, "We should do that when the boys are all off somewhere together and we can make a whole afternoon of it, but tonight..." She saw the smile starting to fade from her extended family and continued quickly, "if Gi is sure that she does not mind playing big sister for the night, I will extend my date with Wheeler until breakfast?"
"Really?" Nat looked up at Gi, "Please say yes?!"
The Water Planeteer's eyes gleamed with mischief as she regarded her best friend, but all she said was, "fine with me."
Linka rolled her eyes at her but smiled when her daughter ran over to hug her. "Spasiba. You and Wheeler can have cookies when they're done too."
"Spasiba." Linka wondered if that meant they couldn't have had cookies if she'd said no, but decided it was better not to ask.
As Nat resumed her seat she turned to leave but was stopped by the small child calling her name. "You and Wheeler will still come in and say goodnight, da?"
"Da, of course." Linka promised, ridiculously happy at the request. "Call us when you are settled," then looking at Gi she said pointedly, "we will only be watching movies."
Her friend laughed but nodded her understanding and she left them to get on with their baking.
It felt a little odd, saying goodnight to Nat and Gi in her cabin and returning to Wheeler's, but at the same time she felt a sense of belonging there. She could definitely get used to it she decided.
They resumed their places on the bed, Linka snuggling under his arm as Wheeler turned the film they'd been watching back on. When it ended they sat in silence for a few moments until at last the American asked the question that had been on his mind. "Are you sure you're ok with this, tonight?"
When she'd come back from checking on the girls with an overnight bag he'd just accepted it without comment, not seeing any problems with it. It had occurred to him since then however, that they'd never actually shared a bed without their little chaperone nearby, and that despite their earlier discussion, she might not be entirely comfortable.
"I used to be the fun cousin that she wanted to spend time with, now I am the authority figure that puts a stop to the fun." She told him thoughtfully.
"I'm sure she doesn't see you like that, Babe." He responded with a frown.
She smiled but her voice held a hint of irony in it, "Nyet, I was invited to join them, but I see myself that way."
He put the laptop on the side and turned so he could wrap his other arm around her as well as they reclined against the pillows. "You're being too hard on yourself."
Linka shook her head, "You have no idea how many times a day I have to check my first impulses to stop myself over-reacting. I could have joined them, and I would have made sure that I joined in, but what is natural for you and Gi, would have been exhausting for me. I will still do it, I have promised them a girly afternoon the next time you are away with the boys, but today was for us."
He kissed her temple, "I still say you're being too hard on yourself. I don't doubt it will take a bit of a mental adjustment but you'd work it out, you always do. I'm not sorry you're here tonight though."
"Me either," She smiled up at him and relaxed, answering his original question though she didn't realise it.
"You wanna watch another movie or call it a night?" he asked.
Considering the question for a moment she said, "How about we get ready for bed and then put another film on?"
"Cool, your turn to pick." He let her up. "Do you think I'll get in trouble if I go and snag some more cookies?"
She chuckled, "With Gi or Natalya?"
"Nat… I don't care if Gi is mad at me." He joked.
She shook her head and grabbed her bag, heading for the bathroom "Nat will be pleased you liked them, and we can always make more." Then she paused, her gaze turned inward and her smile sad, "Papa always ate anything I cooked for him, no matter how bad it was… or how many times I dropped it on the floor. Of course, he did not know about that part."
Wheeler laughed softly, "I bet it wouldn't have made a difference if he did."
She nodded, "You are lucky that Nat is a better cook than I was at that age."
He shrugged, letting her know it didn't make a difference to him either. "I won't be long."
By the time Linka was ready for bed, Wheeler had returned, stripped down to his boxers and was scrolling through their movie selections while finishing the last of the treats he'd appropriated.
"Found anything?" she asked, walking around the bed and pulling back the covers to slip inside.
"It's your turn," he offered her the laptop and a sugary peck on the lips before heading for the bathroom.
They'd gone through comedy and action so she felt vaguely justified in looking through what he generally complained were chick flicks. At last she selected 'Romancing the Stone', ready to argue that it was a murder mystery adventure if he complained. He didn't, although there was definitely an amused rolling of the eyes as he got in beside her.
Linka expected to fall asleep as it was somewhat past the time she would normally call it a night, but she made it to the end of the film without her eyes closing. There was still a faint glow in her cabin, which she assumed was the lamp on her beside cabinet, but she didn't feel inclined to go and tell them to sleep. It will not hurt for one night, she thought.
"Tired?" Wheeler asked.
"Not as much as I should be." She confessed. "But we should probably try to get some sleep anyway."
He agreed and while she shut down the laptop, went to turn off their light.
Back under the covers, and settled comfortably against his chest with her head on his shoulder, she said almost conversationally, "This should feel awkward but it does not. I am relaxed but not entirely because I do not feel as if I can sleep… perhaps it is because I know Nat is still awake."
"Do you want me to do something to help you relax more?" he asked using the same tone she had.
She hesitated, "I thought you said it was too soon…"
Although she couldn't see him in the darkened room she could hear the laughter in his voice, "You have a one track mind Babe."
Amused rather than embarrassed for once, she took up the unspoken challenge, "Ok then, how are you going to relax me?"
His voice low, he began a soft but melodic rendition, "Love me tender, love me sweet, never let me go."
She giggled, "Really? You are going to sing me to sleep?"
"You said I could sing to you when we're alone, but if you're going to laugh…" He shook his head in mock annoyance.
She laughed again but apologised, "Nyet, I promise I will not laugh anymore. Please continue." She'd already relaxed, her world narrowing for a short time to the small bubble that contained only the two of them.
"You have made my life complete, And I love you so." He resumed where he'd left off, going from teasing to sincere in a moment. "Love me tender, love me true, All my dreams fulfilled, For my darling I love you, And I always will…"
Linka loved his voice and didn't interrupt him again, except to whisper 'always' in response to the line, "Tell me you are mine."
When the song came to an end, the result wasn't the intended slumber but a loving kiss that stretched on until it became a very loving make out session. While – true to his word - Wheeler wasn't out to break any boundaries, Linka did notice that his hands strayed more than usual, and she found that she didn't mind at all.
By the time they finally settled down for the night, the light in the other room was off and a peaceful silence had descended on the island.
To be continued… nearer Christmas