nexus_stables | Party at the Nexus Stables! ((Open to everyone!))

Party at the Nexus Stables! ((Open to everyone!))

Ellie had rushed over from work, and had been delighted to find that Mr. Dobson, Nat, and Jinian had already begun setting up for the party. The old cowboy had already fired up the grill in preparation and the girls had set out bread baskets and salads to start. There were tables with hurricane lamps set up near the house, and some additional ones down by the pond. And with clear skies, it was going to be perfect for stargazing even if you never left the table.

Several of the horses were frolicking in the paddock, and she wondered if any of their guests might like to go riding. She was definitely game, and had decided to try riding Bucky this evening. He was a beautiful Palomino, but also quite mischievous too. She was still getting to know the horses and Mr. Dobson had helped her choose which horses would be best to introduce to their guests.

While she waited for Michael and the others to arrive, she climbed up onto the fence of the paddock and watched the horses play.

((~~Thanks for playing with them! Simon-mun and Ellie-mun need sleep, and will be back to keep playing tomorrow if y'all like!~~Back!))

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"Yes! I mean sorry!" She gives him her best, 'I'm sorry, really!' grin.

"I have some ideas about what I'm going to write for him, but need to start writing it out. So maybe, inbetween ravishment and getting too much sun, I'll go inside and write!"

"Or you can write while sunning, and while I massage you and pose for paparazzi shots." He winks at her; actually, he plans to take the boat out far enough to avoid all cameras.

"Oh my! I don't think I'd be write anything coherent if you did that!" It's the truth, too.

"Oh! Where are we staying tonight, my place or yours? I still need to pack a bag for tomorrow."

"Any preference? Jasper's still sleeping on my pillow, I think." He winks at her.

She mock gasps! "Did you steal him from me in the middle of the night?!"

"Actually, I put myself in your hands. If we stay at yours, I just need to pack a few things, my bikini, stuff like that. So, totally up to you!"

He laughs. "No, I made him comfortable on it when I made the bed this morning, while you were making us breakfast."

He kisses her forehead.

"And thank you again for the breakfast. It was delicious."

It's been less than a week, but he's already starting to plan out how to suggest that maybe they should have breakfast together every morning... for the rest of their lives.

"Are you sure?" Grinning, she's obviously just teasing. "Really and truly sure?" Giggling, she can't keep up the ruse. "Is it okay to leave him in your bed when we go sailing?"

His kiss makes her grin even wider.

"You're very welcome! I may not cook an awful lot, but I sure can cut mangoes!"

He laughs. "We can take him with us anywhere you'd like, Kitten. You two are so cute together anyway. And you cut mangoes wonderfully."

In the morning, he decides, he's going to make her a big pancake breakfast.

"As long as he doesn't get lost at sea or anything!" Now that would be tragic. "And thank you. What kind of dinner should we plan for tomorrow night? Would you like me to get anything special?"

She'll be delighted when he makes them tomorrow. They'll probably make her blush, thinking it an obvious 'keep your strength up' meal.

Michael knows exactly where to go to get a little orange life vest, complete with built in gps homing beacon, that they can put on Jasper. Because one of the high-end nautical stores he's especially fond of actually makes them for children's plush toys.

He'll make a quick run over there before it closes, and surprise her with it when it's time for them to go to the boat. He definitely wouldn't want her to lose Jasper, not after everything the two of them have been through together.

"If we're eating on the boat, it should be something ship-themed. Maybe we should do shellfish?"

Were Ellie to know what he has planned, she'd be incredibly touched. The ways in which he cares for and looks out for her never cease to amaze her, and she's so incredibly thankful to have him in her life.

She's been on the lookout for a Jasper lookalike to give to him. Hopefully, he won't think it's silly, but it's for the nights that they can't spend together. So far, that's been none and she loves that.

"Lobsters, or maybe scallops?"

"Would you like both?" Indulging her? Him? Never! "Oh, and this Sunday it's my turn to visit with my grandmother. Would you like to come with me? I'd really like you to meet her."

He's never brought a girlfriend to meet his grandmother before, and he knows it's something she's hoped would happen for years.

"Both?! Are you sure? I'd love that, but... isn't that kind of expensive?" She never fails to be amazed at how much he spoils her.

"Is that okay with your family if I meet her? I'd really like to if I can! Do you visit with her before or after church?" She's already trying to figure out which dress she should wear!

"Not horribly so. And it definitely sets the right mood, I think." He loves spoiling her, and her awed reactions only spur him on. "And of course it's okay."

He winks.

"Why wouldn't it be? They love you, and she's been waiting for me to bring a nice girl home for her to meet forever."

He's never had someone to introduce her to before; Ellie's the first woman he's been this profoundly serious about, ever, and to his way of thinking, the only woman he ever will be.

"After church. We'll have lunch with her in her retirement home's formal dining room, if that's okay, and then she'll want to show you baby pictures of me."

He winks, perfectly fine with that brand of embarrassment. Ironically, the time his family sued the gossip rag for printing a photo of him sunbathing in the nude, it was his grandmother who found the picture first... so she may very well recognize Ellie.

"We'll stop at the store then after lunch with your parents? Maybe we can pick up a few things to go with them, and something for breakfast tomorrow?" She's incredibly excited to go sailing with him tomorrow, and it'll be just the two of them!

"I just wanted to make sure is all! I love them too, they're just great people." She blinks. "Me? But I'm just... you know..." There's quite a bit of blushing happening.

"Sure, that sounds great! And I want to see your baby pictures. I'll bet you were very cute, like you are now too." Blushy grin? Never!

"Yeah... we'll pick up lobsters, and scallops, and maybe the fixings for one of your wonderful salads, too. I'll handle the boiling, and you handle the tossing?" He winks at her. Having her all to himself on his boat, and truly being able to take full advantage of that, is a very exciting development for him. He's been yearning for that for a while.

"You're just the woman I love more than anyone," he answers her, his expression softening. Then his eyes sparkle with wicked mischief. "And I was the world's second-cutest baby."

"Sounds good! Or maybe corn on the cob, if you're not sick of it yet?" She's equally excited as well, thankful that all the barriers between them are now gone. Being on the lake with him, alone and under his power, will be the end to a perfect, wonderful week.

"And you're the man I love more than anyone." Unable to keep from indulging herself, she kisses his cheek. "Second-cutest? You and Dennis look a lot alike, but I'm sure you were still cuter!"

"I'd love some. Do we still have some left? I was afraid we'd run out." He thinks he could live on her parents' corn on the cob. It's wonderful. And he melts when she tells him how much she loves him. "Second-cutest... because the cutest baby ever had to be you."

Really, that's cheating. But right now he's enjoying sappiness too much to care.

"We don't, sorry. But maybe we can find some good ears at the store? The white corn is sweeter than the yellow, and that'll be most like what we had from the farm." She'd love to be able to take him back there again and spend another night in the hayloft with him, much differently the next time.

"Oh please! I'm sure you were cuter! Did my Mom show you those pictures of me in the baby pool or something?"

"I'll let you pick out the corn that looks best. Your eye is much better than mine about that kind of thing." In the meantime, he has a few plans for them and the Stables hayloft. "And yes, she did. I love those pictures. So it's definitely my turn to have mine trotted out, and I know Grandma will do it, too."

"Alright! I'll have to teach you the ways of cornfu, my Master!" Being that silly cracks her up.

"I can't wait to meet her, and to get to see them!"

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Party at the Nexus Stables! ((Open to everyone!))

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