John awoke as the first rays of light began to shine through the gap in the curtains, he felt the warmth of Ellie's body pressed up against his, her soft skin under his hands as he held her. He knew it was likely early yet, he'd been waking up with the sun since his Plebe summer at the Naval Academy. If he was being honest with himself, it was longer than that, as he would often get up early to do PT with his dad as a teenager so he could stay in shape for football.Ever since his daughter had come into his life, he no longer needed to be up at o-dark-thirty for PT, so he'd started finding things to fill those early hours. More times than not, if he had nothing to tidy up in the house, he often found himself in the doorway of Alexandra's room, watching the girl sleep. She was such an active little girl even in her sleep. He would tuck her in at night, but without fail, by morning she would have kicked her covers off and to the side or foot of her bed. Strands of her hair, which he'd finally mastered braiding, with the assistance of his mother and his girlfriend's patient tutelage, had often come loose and lay splayed over her pillow. He knew that it might seem a little creepy to some, but he was in awe of his little girl.He was likewise in awe of the woman now laid within his embrace. She'd been through so much yet was resilient and one of the most loving and kind people he'd ever met. He couldn't help the chuckle that escaped his throat when he noticed how some of her hair had come loose from the braid she'd quickly done before they went to sleep. Her sleep-tousled hair reminded him of his daughter's, his affection for both his girlfriend and his daughter swelled in his chest. He still didn't quite know how he'd gotten here, despite living it, all he knew was that he was the luckiest bastard on the planet to be blessed with the extraordinary woman in his arms, and the equally remarkable little girl who slept just down the hall in her grandmother's hotel room.Ellie made a noise that was somewhere between a squeak, a hum, and a groan as she slowly drifted back into consciousness. As her eyes fluttered open, she found John gazing lovingly down at her, "Hmm, g'morning.""Morning, beautiful," John smiled, leaning in to give her a kiss."I could get used to waking up like this," Ellie giggled, returning the kiss.Soon enough they were making love in the early morning glow of their hotel room. Time must have been on their side, as not too long after they'd settled back into each other's arms, sated from their activities, John's alarm went off. As much as they would have loved to spend the rest of the morning, and well into the day, doing nothing but making love and enjoying the feel of one another's bodies, they had to meet their respective families for breakfast and a full day of beach fun, and playing tourist. They decided that, out of the respect for the draught that California was perpetually in during the summers, they'd share the shower, conveniently ignoring the fact they were bound to use more water doing so; especially as they indulged in one last round once under the shower's spray."Good morning, sleepy heads," Helen gave them a knowing look as they joined their families for breakfast."Seepy heads!" Alexandra crowed from her seat where she was eating some waffles her nanna had cut up for her."Good morning," John ignored his mom and leaned over to kissed his daughter's head, "G'morning, Kid.""Morning, Daddy!" Alexandra smiled up at him, her syrup dotted cheeks earning her a smile from her father."Where have you two been?" Chuck teased."None of your business, little brother," Ellie countered."I need more coffee," Sarah interjected, "Why don't you two come with me, get your breakfast while I get my refill?"Ellie nodded and gently pulled on John's hand to get him to follow her over to the buffet breakfast that was provided by the hotel. When they returned, it seemed like their families had decided to stop trying to embarrass them for the time being, and they settled in to enjoy their meal and make their plans for the day.
The shriek of a little voice carried over the sounds of the crashing waves, John looked up and saw his daughter running through the tides giggling as she was being chased through the tides by Chuck and Sarah. He heard a chuckle beside him and saw his girlfriend laughing, eyes sparkling with mirth."I told you he was like a big kid," She smiled.John grunted in agreement before calling out to his daughter. Alexandra as well as Chuck and Sarah looked over and made their way back up the beach to where the rest of their party was sitting, enjoying the sun and warm sand.Once everyone was seated on the blanked that they'd borrowed from the hotel, Ellie began to distribute the sandwiches and drinks she'd purchased from a deli they'd passed on the way to their outing. They quickly ate and Alexandra was just about to take off when Ellie spoke up."Not so fast," The older woman called, "We need to put some more sunblock on you. We don't need to be taking home a lobster.""We have lobsters?" Alexandra asked.Chuck snickered as Sarah explained."She means she doesn't want you to get sunburned.""Oh, okay," The girl nodded, still not entirely sure what her grownups were talking about but trusting that they knew what they were talking about.Ellie pulled the bottle from her purse and quickly rubbed the lotion into Alexandra's skin. "Alright, now that that's done, can you wait a minute so I can go swimming with you?"Alexandra nodded excitedly as Ellie handed the bottle to her boyfriend and pulled her cover up over her head to expose her bikini."Could you get my back, please?" She asked.John swallowed hard and let out a grunt of acquiescence. He squirted out a bit of the lotion before handing the bottle back to Ellie. John tried to concentrate on applying the sunscreen, instead of the soft skin over which his hands were now running, or the woman to whom the skin belonged. By the time she'd applied the lotion to her legs, arms, face, and torso, he was almost finished with her back.Soon enough, Ellie and Alexandra were running toward the surf, hand in hand."Why don't you go and play with them?" Helen asked, leaning over from the beach chair where she'd sat reading her Reader's Digest.John nodded and stood, pulling off his shirt and dropping it on the blanket before heading down to where Ellie and Alexandra were playing in the waves. Eventually, Chuck and Sarah got in on the fun, pulling Alexandra's attention. John saw his moment and pounced, sweeping his girlfriend up over his shoulder and wading further out into the Pacific laughing at her squeals and protests amid her uncontrollable giggles. Once he'd reached waist level, he unceremoniously flipped his girlfriend into the surf.Ellie breached the surface sputtering as she wiped the salt water from her eyes, "Ooh, you're gonna get it, John Casey. You'd better watch out, Marine!""Do your worst, Doc," He teased her as they played in the surf, laughing like school children as the tides began to come in, making the water around them deeper as the waves rolled by.As it had been for a while now, their play fighting turned into something more and soon they were making out in the rising tides. John loved the way Ellie felt pressed tightly up against her, her warm body an alluring counterpoint to the cold ocean waves that surrounded them.Ellie could feel him pressing up against her belly as he held her, kissing her within an inch of her life. The water was getting deeper, and she let out a sigh, when she felt his hands drift down her body, caressing her ass before taking a firm hold and lifting her up. She wrapped her legs around her waist to hold her position against her as he held her, pressed as intimately together as they could while still wearing their bathing suits.She felt his impish little grin against her lips at the same time as the fingers of one of his hands began toying with the opening of her bathing suit, slowly easing in, until he found the warmth he was searching for. She let out a low growl against his throat, where she'd long since adhered her lips as he began to tease her, caressing her lips but not breaching her with more than the pad of a fingertip or two."John," She warned."No one can see, Ellie Faye," He assured her, as his finger stroked along her entrance enticingly, "God, I want you so bad, it hurts.""Well maybe we should do something to relieve the pain," She replied coyly, releasing her legs hold on his waist and lowering her feet to the sandy bottom of the ocean floor. She let one of her hands drift over his chest and down his abs before loosening the drawstring of his trunks. She slipped her hand under the waistband of the shorts and palmed him, using her other hand to push his trunks lower on his hips, just enough to free him, "Doesn't that feel better?"John hummed in approval as his hand likewise slipped down the front of her bikini bottom, teasing her as he leaned down to capture her lips with his, his tongue mirroring his finger's movement, slowly running over the seam of her lips before slowly entering and stroking her from within."Oh, God," Ellie groaned as he increased his speed and his thumb joined in, caressing along the bundle of nerves that never failed to heighten their time together. She began to rock into his hand, hoping to increase the friction as she stroked him, feeling him growing stronger every moment that passed."What do you want, Ellie?" He asked, nipping her earlobe and along her jawline, sending thrills of pleasure down her body. He noticed her eyes flick toward the shore where their families were. A quick glance over his shoulder was long enough to know that is mom was absorbed in her magazine, and Sarah, Chuck, and Alexandra were laying, likely dozing, if not sleeping, on the beach blanket. "Its up to you, Sweetheart."
"I want… I need…" She stammered, moaning against the pleasure he was brining rise to within her with only the use of his hand. "Are you sure they can't see?"
"We're practically up to our shoulders in the ocean, I doubt they'll see or notice anything," He assured her withdrawing his hand and lifting her into his arms once more, "What do you say, Doc, up for a little fun?"
"God yes," Ellie groaned, leaning her head back as he pressed kisses to her throat. She felt his hand shift ever so slightly as he pulled her bikini bottoms to the side, allowing her hand, which still had a grip on him to guide him. He loved the little squeak and moan she let out as he was fully wrapped within her warmth.
"You are so beautiful," John whispered low as he kissed her, "I love the way you feel, I love your touch," He began to slowly move, "I doubt I'm going to last very long."
He must not have been moving fast enough for her liking because Ellie began to rock into him at a faster rate, her breath quickening as she approached her peak, "I'm almost there, God John, you feel so good."
It didn't take long, as he'd predicted for them to reach their climax. Hers triggering his as she pulsed around him milking him dry as she collapsed in his arms. He was struggling to stand, himself but knew he had to stay steady for her. It only took a moment, once they'd disengaged, to set themselves to rights and head back toward the shore. They were half-way there when he suddenly stopped.
"Oh, God, that all happened so fast… I hadn't planned to…" He stammered, the reality of what they'd just done, wonderful as it was, hit him.
"It's okay, I'm covered," She assured him, squeezing his hand reassuringly, "Doesn't mean we should double up on precautions most of the time, but if we forget or don't have a secondary in the moment, we're okay."
John nodded, returning the squeeze, "Okay." He had no intention of becoming a father again anytime soon, but as they quietly made their way up the beach, he couldn't help his mind drifting, wondering how she would look carrying their child. She'd no doubt be just as beautiful, if no more so if that day ever came… He stopped himself at the thought, looking at her, knowing in his heart that someday in the not-so-distant future, he'd let her know that she was it for him.
Unbeknownst to her boyfriend, Ellie's mind had likewise begun to wander. She wondered what it would be like to feel a little person who was half her and half the remarkable man who had captured her heart. She could imagine them curled up on the couch in his living room, his hand caressing her stomach as he told his secrets to their son, because if any man deserved to have a son, it was John Casey. Although the thought of him surrounded by nothing but little girls humored her. She barely suppressed the giggle and small snort that escaped at her last thought.
"What, do I have seaweed dangling or something?" He asked.
"No, nothing like that," Ellie shook her head before trying to distract him. Rounding on him and pulling him down for a chaste but brain melting kiss. "We should get back to our families, they're probably wanting to get back to the hotel so we can change before dinner."
John grunted his agreement as they made their way back up the beach. Soon they were pulling shirts and cover ups over their damp bathing suits and loading up the cars to head back to the hotel. After an hour to shower and change, everyone met up again to get dinner.
This time they took the ferry over to San Diego to enjoy a Mexican restaurant that Chuck liked to frequent when he went to ComiCon. Chuck ignored the eye roll from his sister at his admission as the walked to the ferry terminal and paid their fare.
Ellie eventually had to admit that her little brother was right, it was a great restaurant. The food was top-notch, and the margaritas were to die for. She and Sara indulged in a couple while the men were content with their cervezas, even Alexandra got a virgin strawberry margarita, basically a strawberry flavored slushy in a smaller, sugar rimmed, plastic margarita glass that was clearly made for the children's variation of the drink.
The women were a little tipsy as they made their way back to the ferry terminal, holding on to their respective significant others. John held a dozing Alex in on arm while wrapping his other around Ellie's shoulder as they walked. He knew she wasn't so far gone so as to affect her coordination but used it as an excuse to hold her close as they continued to walk. Once back at the hotel, they all separated into their respective rooms to get some rest before enjoying their last day of their miniature vacation.
The next morning was spent again at the beach, building and knocking down sandcastles, playing in the ocean, Chuck had even brought out the boogie board to ride in the waves. Reluctantly, they headed back to the hotel to shower and finish packing, having arranged a late check out for their group. They all met up again in the lobby of the hotel, bags loaded up on carts or being pulled behind them. Kisses and hugs were exchanged along with plans for calls and help with wedding planning for Sarah and Chuck's upcoming nuptials before loading up in their respective cars and heading back to their real lives.