Peter came downstairs just as I was heading into the shower. After a quick glance around the room he noticed that no one else was awake, and then got dressed quickly and headed downstairs, electing himself to make breakfast. When he reached the bottom of the stairs, he saw that Nicole was already up and in the kitchen, starting a pot of coffee. She hadn't seen or heard him come down. Taking care to avoid that squeaky step, he crept quietly into the kitchen. Coming up behind her, he put his arms around her waist and whispered into her ear.
"Good morning, love," he whispered. The feel of his arms around her waist startled her, and she jumped, but then heard his voice and calmed down.
"Mmm," she said. "'Mornin'." He loosened his hold on her, and she turned around, shoving her face into him and forcing him into one of their famous passionate kisses.
"Coffee?" she offered when the kiss was finally complete. He nodded, and she proceeded to pour two cups. "What's for breakfast?"
He shrugged. "Whatever you want, love."
She smiled, blushing slightly. "Peter, are you sure that's a good idea? I mean, what if somebody else..?"
"No body else is awake except Davy," he said, grinning. "And he's in the shower anyway."
"Hmm," she murmured, considering the implications. But any romantic thoughts either of them might have had dissipated when they both heard her stomach growl. Peter barely managed to stifle his laughter.
"About that breakfast, love," he said. "What'll it be?"
Eventually, they decided on pancakes, and Mike and Micky were lured out of bed by the mere smell of them. "Mmmm," Micky moaned, heading into the kitchen, arms outstretched as if he were a zombie. "Must...have...pancakes.."
Peter rolled his eyes. Unable to resist, I took my plate and moved it just under his nose. Micky moved his nose, following the scent of the pancakes, moaning as if the smell were a step away from heaven. He had a heavenly smile on his face, too, almost too good to disturb. Almost..
I moved my plate of pancakes, complete with syrup and butter under his nose temptingly, and then quickly, without warning, moved them upwards fast. Hitting Micky square in the face.
Micky opened his eyes to find syrup and butter dripping down his face. "Mmm," he sighed, licking them off with his tongue. Peter, Nicole, and I were unable to repress the giggles. He looked so silly.
Mike entered the kitchen while the rest of us were eating. Micky was washing the syrup and butter off his face. Unfortunately, some of it had gotten in his hair, and he couldn't get that out without washing his hair. Mike headed to the coffee pot to get a cup of coffee, passing Micky on the way. He barely suppressed laughter.
"What happened to you?" he asked. Micky just moaned incoherently and headed upstairs to wash his hair. Peter, Nicole, and I burst out laughing. Mike looked at us, and then at Micky. "I don't wanna know," he said, sitting down to eat his portion of pancakes.
When the laughter had died down and all was solemn again, Nicole brought up the question. "Guys, you still haven't told me how Davy got this way," she said.
We were faced with a dilemma here. We didn't want to tell her about everyone, but we didn't want to lie to her either. I looked at Mike.
I focused and sent a question to him. 'Why not tell the truth?' Mike looked at me. Keeping myself in his thoughts, he answered.
'I don't want to scare her.' It was a feeble excuse, and he knew it.
'She'll probably be here on the full moon, anyway,' I sent.
'True.' His thoughts moved quickly. Then he spoke out loud.
"What are you doin'?" I blinked, surprised, and drew myself out.
"I-I'm sorry, Mike," I said. "I just thought that.... I mean, I didn't even think about it. I just did it. I'll try not to anymore."
Nicole blinked. The wordless conversation had eluded her, and she had no idea what we were talking about.
'No,' he thought. 'We can use this to explain to her. ' I didn't get it. 'Send her somethin' the way you did now, to me.'
"Hmm. Good idea, Mike," I said aloud. Then I focused on Nicole. I sent her a message. 'This is why.'
She blinked, surprised, and looked at me. 'How do you do that?' she thought in her head.
'Easy,' I sent. 'Just focus and concentrate. It seems to be my gift.'
'You...you've done this to me before, haven't you?'
'Yes,' I sent. Then I sent her the soothing feeling I had sent her before. 'So you wouldn't be scared.'
'The others know?' It was a stupid question, she realized.
'Yes.'
She stopped, digesting this information. I pulled myself out. Then, a thought occurred to her, and she asked out loud.
"Why didn't you use this to find Peter and I?" she asked.
"I did," I said. "I focused on your thoughts and listened to what they told me. Or rather Peter's." I winked at Peter.
"So you knew..even before..?" I nodded.
"Knew what?" Mike asked. We'd forgotten he was there.
"Nothing," Nicole said, leaving it at that.
(two weeks later)
It was nearly sunset. Micky and Mike had gone on the beach and joined a volleyball game that a few others were starting. Peter, Nicole, and I were alone. Peter was in the kitchen, finishing off the supper dishes. I was heading out to join the volleyball game, too.
"'ey, Pete, you coming?" I asked.
"Nah, we're going to stay here," he said, and I caught the implied meaning. "Could you warn me if anyone else comes back?"
"Sure," I agreed, leaving to join the volleyball game.
Nicole came into the room. "Where's he goin'?" She asked Peter.
"To join a volleyball game," he said. "It's almost sunset," he added. She looked out the window and saw that this was true.
"Mmm-hmm," she said, absently, wondering what the sun setting had to do with anything.
Peter put the last of the plates into the cabinet and went over to her. "I thought maybe you and I could sit and watch the sunset. It's really beautiful, and Davy said he'd warn me if any of the others started coming back," he said, hopefully.
"Okay," she said. He grabbed their jackets in case it got colder, and headed out the back door.
They walked until they found a suitable spot where the volleyball players couldn't see them due to a tree. Then they both sat down on the sand to watch the sunset. The golden ball of fire headed slowly down to the ocean, changing the colors of the clouds as it went, making a collage of purple, pink, and blue, next to the orange-yellow sun. They sat and watched as the sun dipped beneath the horizon and then laid down to watch the stars come up overhead.
"Pete..that was breathtaking," Nicole said. Peter flashed a smile. "Mmm. Has anyone ever told you that you have a great smile?" His eyes widened. "Seriously. The first time I saw you smile like that, I had to force myself not to swoon over it. " This time, his smile turned into a laugh.
"I don't think anyone's ever told me that," he said. Then, he stopped, sitting up. He appeared to be listening to something.
"What?" she asked.
"Nothing," he said. "Just Davy. The volleyball game's over. I told him to tell the others that we went for a walk. " He laid down again on the sand. "The stars are beautiful, aren't they?" he asked. He raised his hand, pointing to a spot in the sky. "There's the big dipper."
She looked over. "Yeah," she said, pointing to another spot in the sky. "And the moon is full. Ain't that gorgeous?"
Peter practically felt his heart stop in his chest. "D-did you say that the m-moon is f-full?" he asked, sitting up abruptly.
"Yeah, ain't it....Peter? What is it?" He was already up and heading down the beach.
"Davy, tell me you can hear me," he said under his breath.
(back at the Pad)
I stopped what I was doing and stood still, causing Micky, who was behind me on the steps, to stop still and nearly crash in to me.
"Hey, watch what you're doing!" he said, but I barely even noticed. "Davy? Davy? Yoo-hoo, Davy?" I blinked, and then opened my mouth.
"MIKE!" I yelled, nearly making Micky deaf. And he thought he had a big mouth. As soon as he appeared somewhere under us, I said: "We've got a problem. And a bigger one than usual."
