likesthestooges | (no subject)

Aidan had tried to create a balance between smothering Rachel when she was in someone elses body but also giving her some space. Aidan wanted to help her with it but he knew that Rachel was strong enough to handle the bodyswap. It was also a little weird to have his girlfriend's actions reflected in a different body. He knew, mentally, that it was Rachel but it was still hard to get used to. So when she had reassured him that she was fine by herself that night he didn't protest too hard about spending it apart from her.

Alright, so he hadn't protested at all. He didn't even wake up immediately that morning because some part of him really hoped that everyone would be back to normal and Rachel would have found her way back to her own hut in her own body. It would be a relief if that happened, if for no other reason than dealing with Zero and the octopus-thing was getting to be annoying.

So that morning he'd been slow about making his way to her place, grabbing breakfast (and some sausages for Zero) and double-checking that the clinic wasn't swamped with work. Since it wasn't he felt comfortable enough about heading up to Rachel's without seeming like an overprotective boyfriend.

Tossing the sausages to the wolfhound as he knocked on the door and stuck his head inside he called out for Rachel.

"You here?" he asked, not sure if he wanted her to be or not.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

starchilde_lost

One of the nicest things she'd discovered about having Zero around was that no one ever snuck up on her little hut. When she saw his ears perk up and saw him head to go sit outside, she even had a good idea who it was. There weren't really many people he'd actually go out and greet and it gave her time to check on her appearance.

Since waking up that morning, happily in her own body, she'd headed back to her hut with a smile on her face. No one was happier than she, but she had a feeling that Aidan would be just as relieved. And he'd been so great about everything she decided to make him something nice and take it over. But now it appeared he was coming over, which was just as good if not better. Smoothing down the sundress she was wearing she emerged from her bedroom to greet him.

"Look who's back to her usual awesome self!" She gave a little pirouette across the room and spun into his arms. "Miss me?"

From:

likesthestooges

"You were here the whole time," he said, although the smile on his face and the way he kissed her showed that he definitely hadn't thought that was the same thing. He could have adapted to Rachel being in the body of someone else long term but he liked it best that all of her was together again.

"But I do like you like this better though."

From:

starchilde_lost

Smiling against his lips, she couldn't help but agree. It was very nice to be able to kiss and hold her boyfriend again. Probably other things, too, and that added to her already sketchy idea.

"I was pulling together a snack picnic. I was thinking we could go to the waterfall, do a little swimming, maybe lay in the sun..."

From:

likesthestooges

"That sounds like a fantastic idea," he said, although he wasn't quite ready to let go over her just yet. It was surprising just how used he'd gotten to holding her and when he couldn't do it like he wanted, or at least feel entirely comfortable with it, he missed it. Aidan definitely hadn't appreciated that aspect of their relationship until it was thrown out of whack.

"Just you and I relaxing together."

From:

starchilde_lost

"Perfect. Finish packing the basket? I think there's a bottle of wine too, I just want to grab a blanket from my bedroom and we can go?" She nuzzled his neck a little, feeling his pulse beneath her lips. Now that he was here, she was seriously reconsidering the picnic thing, but there were plenty of secluded little spots around the waterfall they could relax and fool around in if it came to that. She really hadn't considered how comfortable she'd gotten just having Aidan around to cuddle with or kiss of fall asleep in his arms and now... she really didn't want him out of her sight for a very long time.

From:

likesthestooges

Aidan just stood there for a moment, humming happily at the warm feel of her.lout on his neck. Even though it was just a few days without it, he relied on this sort of feeling and connection more than he had realized. Aidan needed Rachel.

"Mmmm, alright, I'll do that in a moment," he told her, holding her close to him.

From:

starchilde_lost

Eh, the picnic could wait, Rachel snuggled closer in his arms and felt... everything, really. Everything good and safe and wonderful and she felt like a heroine in the trashy romances she pretended she didn't read when the bookshelf offered them up. She was really in trouble, wasn't she?

With a happy sigh, she closed her eyes and smiled, "I love you. Don't laugh, okay, but I do."

From:

likesthestooges

The words came from her without any hesitation and sounded so natural that Aidan almost didn't catch it at first. She even sounded happy about it and not like she was grudgingly admitting it which was actually how every other stage of their relationship had gone.

"Wait, are you serious?" he said, pulling back a bit to look at her with a grin.

From:

starchilde_lost

"I told you not to laugh!" She was blushing furiously and she couldn't quite match his gaze, but she managed to punch his shoulder. She didn't know what else to do. How did people do this? "It's not a big deal, but I thought you'd like to know, okay? I just... I've been meaning to say something and I figured why not now?"

She finally looked up at him, "Don't look at me like that!"

From:

likesthestooges

"I'm not laughing," Aidan said, still beaming at her. Somehow her reaction to this was making it even more special. She was sheepish and playful and not angsting about it at all, which is what he might have expected. It was like she actually enjoyed the idea of being in love with him.

"I'm just happy because now I get to tell you that I love you too. I was a little worried about saying it before."

From:

starchilde_lost

"You're enjoying this way too much." She knew that he loved her, he'd been ahead of her this whole time, but hearing him say it made her tingle all the way down to her toes. So before she said something to ruin the moments he gave him a quick kiss and stepped away.

"I'll just be in the bedroom a minute, okay?"

From:

likesthestooges

"I'm sorry, I'll try to enjoy the fact that my girlfriend loves me a little bit less," he said as he returned her kiss. Seeing her smile this much made him happy though and he was sure he was going to have a stupid grin on his face for weeks after this.

"Sure, I'll be right here."

From:

starchilde_lost

Dashing into the bedroom, she slipped a bikini on under her sundress, picked up a blanket off her bed and headed back into the living room. Everything should be ready to go, she finished tossing the last pieces into the basket. "Anything you think we need?"

From:

likesthestooges

Aidan had the same ridiculous grin on his face as when Rachel went into the bedroom and he didn't think it would go away for a while. Sure, later when he was laying in bed awake he'd think about what a terrible idea this was and how it would only end in tragedy but for right now he was happy.

"No, I think we have everything we'll need, although I forgot to bring my trunks back from the last time I washed them."

From:

starchilde_lost

"I think you've got some clean boxers here, or..." She felt her grin get a little wicked as she picked up the basket, "you could go without. I certainly won't say anything." She also had the distinct impression that she wouldn't end up with her suit on for much longer anyway, not with that ridiculous grin on his face.

Oh, well, she was just as glad she had her body back as he did, why shouldn't they enjoy themselves this afternoon?

From:

likesthestooges

"I feel like I should wonder if I've been a bad influence on you," he said with a laugh. The first time they'd slept together had been a rather direct result from skinny dipping, although she had been a bit more hesitant about it then.

From:

starchilde_lost

"You are a bad influence on me." Lifting onto her toes, she gave him a soft kiss. "Look at me, acting all girlfriend-y and everything. You've been an absolute beast. A sexy, sexy, beast."

Deciding he'd have told her if he wanted the boxers, she headed towards the door. He could come with, or pull her back inside. And if he pulled her inside, he'd better make it worth her while.

From:

likesthestooges

"You're also getting really good at complimenting me," he told her. Not that she had ever been bad at it but he did like being called a 'sexy, sexy beast". Rachel absolutely knew how to push all his buttons. He especially liked it when she was playful like this.

"So please, keep going," he added as he followed her out.

From:

starchilde_lost

"Nope, that's it, I'm all done. I have no more compliments left in me." She was blushing enough as it was as she headed towards the door. The waterfall was right nearby and maybe by then she'd have some of her composure back. She'd thought about doing something really romantic, like a candlelight dinner or something when she finally told him she loved him, but this had been nice, too.

"C'mon, beast, let's go swimming."

From:

likesthestooges

"Well, that ended disappointingly fast," he said, laughing a bit at how much she was blushing. He liked that about her, that she could be so sheepish about something so relatively innocent but still go ahead and say it. Quickly stepping up beside her, he reached out and took hold of her hand.

"Say it again for me?"

From:

starchilde_lost

She squirmed a little, blushing even more. It was ridiculous, she said it, he heard it, did she really have to say it again? But she returned the squeeze of his hand and with a deep breath she said it again, "I love you Aidan McCollin even if I think you're a hopeless romantic wrapped up in a sexy vampire body and maybe because of it. We good now?"

From:

likesthestooges

"We're good for now," he said, not even trying to hide the smile on his face that came from hearing those words. Aidan wouldn't make her say them right again for a bit but he really hoped this wasn't the last time she said it either.

"But don't be afraid to say it again sometime. I like hearing it."