first_in_time | New Lives and Mourned Pasts

The trip was long but at least they had jobs to go to and somewhere to live even if it was small. They each had one suitcase half filled with clothes and a life they were leaving behind. Once they were left in the by the side of a dusty road on the outskirts of a small country town Barbara walked with Ian to their new home, unconsciously holding onto his hand as she had done so many times before. Their real estate agent waited at the door of their new home to hand them a set of keys. He wished the newly weds ever lasting happiness then left them to it.

"It seems I've missed my own wedding," Barbara said with a sigh as she put the suitcase down in the middle of the almost empty lounge room and chuckled a little. She was tired and felt dirty from all their traveling.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

splendid_roman

"That's why we came to somewhere small, rather than another big city." He was looking forward to living somewhere where everyone knew each other and they were all friendly - which they'd already seen at the general store.

From:

first_in_time

"I know," Barbara squeezed his hand before they turned onto their street, "I also like living so very close to the school. It means we'll be able to take our time getting ready in the mornings."

From:

splendid_roman

"Or just sleep later," he said, grinning.

From:

first_in_time

"If you must," she chuckled, "but we could get up a little earlier and spend a little more time together before school." Barbara smiled shyly at him.

From:

splendid_roman

Ian was going to protest that they had time after school, but then he saw her look and changed his mind. "That would be nice too." He smiled at her and squeezed her hand before dropping it to get his keys out and open their front door.

From:

first_in_time

"Although I suppose that we do have after school for such things if we don't want to get up early." Barbara followed Ian into the house and put her things in the lounge.

From:

splendid_roman

"Let's just see what time we wake up," he suggested. He flopped onto the sofa with a sigh. "I'd forgotten how tiring teaching is."

From:

first_in_time

Barbara watched him for a moment. "I'll make you some tea," she said and went into the kitchen only to return a few minutes later with Ian's tea and a cup for herself.

"A cup of tea will make you feel a lot better."

From:

splendid_roman

"Thank you." He smiled as he took it and leaned up to kiss her. "A cup of tea, a rest and a few lesson plans and I'll be ready for our sunset picnic."

From:

first_in_time

"Good. I'd hate to go without you," she replied and sipped from her own tea. "It wouldn't be half as romantic."

From:

splendid_roman

He chuckled. "It might be more peaceful, though."

From:

first_in_time

"Why? Are you going to sit there and scream?" Barbara grinned.

From:

splendid_roman

"I might. It depends on what you're planning to do." He grinned at her.

From:

first_in_time

Barbara thought about it a moment. "Do you scream when you're having a good time?"

From:

splendid_roman

"I might if it's enough of a good time," he said suggestively, then sipped at his tea before she could see his blush.

From:

first_in_time

Barbara blushed noticeably, not having meant anything untoward by her comment.

"Perhaps we could test that theory," she said quietly and sipped some tea herself.

From:

splendid_roman

"Maybe not on a hill at sunset." He wasn't sure how he felt about testing it at all, but he sipped his tea while he thought. "Perhaps we should see how we feel and what we're comfortable with later."

From:

first_in_time

"Maybe," she agreed. on a hill at sunset was a romantic idea but Barbara didn't see it as practical. There was dirt and bugs, not to mention that it was a public area, no matter how remote the little town was. In theory she wanted to sleep with Ian very much, but it was all lust and the idea made her nervous and flushed her skin pink.

"What would you like for dinner?" she asked by way of changing the subject.

From:

splendid_roman

Ian would have agreed that on a hill at sunset would be romantic, but he wasn't keen on such a public place, especially since being teachers meant they'd come into contact with half the town and he wouldn't be able to look them in the eye if they were discovered. It wasn't going to be the best place for their first time anyway.

"Some sandwiches," he suggested, not really minding what they ate. "Whatever we have. I ate lunch in the canteen with the rest of the science department."

From:

first_in_time

"I'll have to have a look. It's been such a long day that I feel as though I don't have the energy to remember what's in the cupboard. I'm sure I can pull together something adequate, though." At least sandwiches weren't difficult.

From:

splendid_roman

"We only went shopping yesterday," he said chuckling, although he couldn't remember what they had either. "But I'll take sandwich surprise."

From:

first_in_time

"I can certainly do that," Barbara told Ian and got up to do as much, leaving Ian to his work for a short time.

From:

splendid_roman

He did work, re-doing his lesson plans to make sure they were suitable for a younger audience with less science knowledge. It was getting close to sunset when he finished, stretched and went to see if their picnic was ready.

From:

first_in_time

Their picnic had been ready for a time but Barbara wanted to let Ian work. She sat at their little kitchen table, her own notes and plans spread out before her and a basket she'd found sat on the kitchen counter.

She looked up as Ian entered. "How did you go?"