Rating: M (Mature--language and adult situations)

Notes: Gabrielle belongs to “Xena Warrior Princess”. All other characters are fictitious and mine. Please send comments to dante0220@yahoo.com .


Introduction

Gabrielle, Bard Queen of the Amazons, writes…..

Right after their marriage, David and Angela had some rather exciting adventures. However, even they needed some time to themselves. Just after their return from Byzantium and Cairo, Cybelle had an idea of a planned weekend together at Grotto Ridge (from the Misadventures scroll).

Seems that weekend proved to be just what the doctor (in this case, Angela) ordered…..



Chapter 1 [Faerie Realms]

From within her cathedral, the Faerie Empress watched the events unfold in the Middle East with interest and consternation. Is it too much to hope for a *peaceful* tradition for those two? She shook her head at the Child’s eruption onto the international scene. Now he threatens everything as well! How I wish I could eliminate the demon and be done with it!

“Milady?” Cybelle asked while stepping through a portal into the area.

The Empress turned to see the priestess. “Ah, Cybelle! Thank you for coming! How goes things between you and your companion?”

“Mike’s all right. May I ask what this is about?” Cybelle wondered while bowing.

“You may. Have you been keeping up with your brother’s latest adventures?” the Empress asked.

“Dave can’t keep himself out of trouble for anything,” Cybelle noted. “I wish he could find a peaceful place.”

“Perhaps there is such a place. Are you familiar with the place called Grotto Ridge?” the Empress indicated.

“Isn’t that where Dave went with his class and ran into the demon’s perfect storm?” Cybelle recalled.

“Yes. The demon is no where near there now. I think it’s a perfect place for our two travelers to have a place to rest. You all can run your devices….what are they called?”

“Snowmobiles?” Cybelle supposed.

“Those ‘snowmobiles’ seem to be good for David. Please make sure he has a pleasant ride, will you?” the Empress suggested.

“I will make the arrangements, Milady. All will be ready when they arrive back in Boston,” Cybelle noted.

“Excellent. Please make certain of it,” the Empress told her before disappearing from the scene.

What is she planning? With that, Cybelle vanished in a poof of smoke of her own.




Chapter 2 [Two Days Later]
[Boston—Logan Airport]

Dave wheeled his and Angie’s carry ons out of the customs area and looked around at the terminal area. He had definitely enjoyed the pleasurable interludes between research and academic business on the trip with Angie. Being married to her definitely has its benefits! He put the bags down on the carpeted floor and considered the wedding band on his hand, letting it glint in the moonlit hue.

“Can’t take your eyes off it, can you?”

He turned around to find Cybelle standing there in normal clothes. “Cybbie! What are you doing here?”

“Just meeting my big brother after his big adventure with the new wife. Can’t let you take any chances in that regard, can I?” she supposed.

He frowned at her. “That’s not funny.”

“Don’t start on that,” she argued.

He laughed sarcastically. “You all killed my wife and you make jokes about it. Drop it or leave already.”

Stop, Dave and Cybelle.

Deirdre appeared between them. “This arguing is pointless. Cybelle, he has a point. While I may have strayed from the Way, I did so under the goddess’ orders and with her blessing. Please do not joke about such things or the love Dave and I had for each other.”

“Have.”

“Dave, you’re Angie’s husband now. You forsook me too,” Deirdre pointed out.

“Not where I’m concerned,” Angie disagreed as she approached them. “I told you, Deirdre, that you’re always welcome where we’re concerned and I meant it.” She hugged the angel for emphasis. “You were his fiancée.”

“But this is your time now. She knows that. She shouldn’t even be here,” Cybelle chastised the angel.

“Except that I’ve left that door open,” Angie countered. “It’s open by my direct invitation. Except for certain…well…private moments between Dave and me, she’s welcome. I also am comfortable with her previous roles in Dave’s life whatever those were.” She took his hands in hers. “I know my Sweetums loves me. That’s all that matters to me.”

“And I feel the same, Princess,” he emphasized while holding her tightly. “You know how big of a heart, you have?”

“Because you’re holding me and she gave you to me,” Angie reminded him before breaking off the contact. “Sorry, Deirdre, but well….”

“I don’t want any trouble either. Thanks, Angie. I’ll be by to check on you both,” Deirdre concluded before disappearing again.

“So what’s going on?” Angie asked her sister-in-law tersely. “Is your father up to another trouble session or what?”

“He’d better hope not,” Dave interjected, feeling his head starting to go numb. “After that exercise with the terrorists, I won’t be able to hold the Child back.”

“Relax, both of you. It has nothing to do with him. It’s actually about additional vacation time for us. Mike, you two and me,” Cybelle assured them. “Snowmobiling trip to Grotto Ridge?”

“Grotto Ridge? That sounds like fun,” Angie assumed.

Dave shook his head. “Does the Empress know about this, Sis? There’s been trouble there in the past.”

“She knows. She says it’s safe. It should be so,” the disguised priestess assured him.

“Better be,” he muttered, not wanting to take any more chances with Angie’s well being. “Let’s get to the car.”

“Follow me. Mike’s waiting in the restaurant with our table. We figured you’d be hungry after the flight from London,” Cybelle indicated.

“Sounds good,” Angie chimed in.

Dave nodded, hoping that the argument between them was the last bit of trouble for this stage of the trip.




Chapter 3 [Next Afternoon—Grotto Ridge]

After spending the night in Amherst at the Rogers’ house and doing breakfast with Angie’s aunt, the two couples made good time up the interstate, getting to Grotto Ridge by noon. They checked into their rooms and set things up.

“Think the sleds are here yet?” Dave asked.

“The guy said they’d be here by now,” Mike indicated as they trudged through the snow to the garage. He knocked on the door.

A skinny blonde girl in greasy coveralls and a backwards baseball cap glanced out. “Yeah? What do you want?”

“Hi, I’m Mike Rogers and this is my brother-in-law, Dave Dubois. We were wondering if our sleds had been dropped off yet?” Mike wondered.

“Yeah. I was just checking the oil and stuff. They look great. Come back in twenty minutes and they’ll be ready to go,” she indicated.

“Great. Thanks!” Dave expressed before he and Mike headed back for the lodge. “Meet you both in the lobby in fifteen?”

“Sounds great.”

Dave headed down to the room and knocked. “Angie, you okay?”

“I’m fine. Come on in,” she bade. When he had done so, she asked, “How are the sleds coming?”

“They’ll be ready in twenty minutes,” he replied while embracing her. “Meantime, Dr. Dubois….” He kissed her passionately.

“Dave, you’re terrible!”

He rolled his eyes. “We are still on our honeymoon, Dear.”

“True. Okay.” She kissed him back. “Rain check until tonight though. We don’t want to keep Mike and Cybelle waiting.”

“They’re married. I think they’ll understand.”

Angie smirked. “Dave, I want my ride…on the snowmobile.”

“Fine,” he retorted while watching her put her coat on. “Let’s go. Trail’s a wastin’.”


****


[Cyclone Ridge]

True to expectations, the couples rode the trails at a moderate pace. The woods were pristine in nature with only a few animals and birds sharing them with the riders. Occasionally, they would stop and take in the scenic vistas.

About two hours into the trip, they stopped in Cyclone Ridge for a breather.

Dave surveyed the area. While he wasn’t about to say anything to Angie or Mike, he still felt ill at ease about being in the area. He found a tree by the side of the trail.

Cybelle walked over to him and whispered, “The cave’s deserted. Don’t worry.”

“Yeah I know,” he noted, eyeing the trail and the air. “Meantime, let’s get back to the others. I want my cocoa and cookies.”

Cybelle nodded and walked back over to the group. “Sorry.”

“What’s the big deal about the tree?” Mike asked.

“That’s where Karen fell into the cave, isn’t it?” Angie recalled. “She told me about it.”

“Dave killed a bear down there,” Cybelle explained to Mike as she brought out the chocolate chip cookies.

“Dave?” Her husband snorted in disbelief. “No offense, Dude, but there’s no way you’d kill a full grown black bear.”

“You know that rug in the front of the lodge?” Dave supposed.

“Yeah so?”

“That was the bear,” Dave informed him. “I took him out. Me and my little explosive arrows.”

Angie stared at him. “That huge thing?”

He whispered to her, “The Child did it. He killed it to protect Karen.”

“Ah.” She filed that one away.

“He really did it,” Cybelle verified. “I heard from a very reliable source.”

“I’ll take your word for it,” Mike agreed while finishing his cocoa.

“It’s getting on for 4:30. Let’s get these treats down. I want to be back before dark,” Dave noted while looking at his watch. He munched on a couple of cookies and made sure Angie did the same.




Chapter 4 [That night—Lodge]

After returning to the lodge and pointing out the bear pelt to his brother-in-law, Dave changed into his sweats and sat on the bed. Given the recent itinerary, he appreciated even a halfway restful day. Wish we had more time to ride around on the trails today. Ah well, there’s always tomorrow! He rummaged through the closet and inspected the ice fishing traps there. They’re set. At least Cybelle got these. He smiled imagining the time on the lake during the next day’s endeavors.

“Can it be? My hubby’s relaxing?” Angie sassed while entering the room.

“I do from time to time, you know,” he retorted.

“Imagine that?” she laughed while kissing him. “We do have some time before dinner.”

“Oh we do, do we?” he supposed while eyeing her up and down. “I don’t suppose the doctor scheduled an exam, did she?”

“Umm…no but…” Her eyes twinkled at him. “I have an opening.” She kissed him again. “And we do have that rain check.”

“So we do,” he agreed while unbuttoning her blouse and removing her jeans. “Mmm…love the view.”

“I suppose you do. I get mine too though,” she told him while pulling off his sweatshirt and sweatpants. “And since you’ve been relaxing, you get more.” She unclasped her bra and slid her panties off so that she stood in her full glory in front of him.

“Now I really love the view,” he assessed.

“As do I,” she agreed while sliding the silencer onto him. Then she popped a pill and chased it with a glass of water. “All set.”

No sooner did she say the words than he pulled her down onto the bed with him.

They showered each other with kisses, feeling every inch of the other partner much as a blind person would a Braille book. They felt the rush of their passion with each caress and touch.

As he kissed each breast, she arched her back and closed her eyes.

Then he entered her, initiating the oldest dance of all before climaxing in a spectacle of pleasure for them both.

“Wow,” she sighed while slumping back onto the pillow. “Hug my shoulders?”

“What my Princess wants, she gets,” he quipped while snaking his arm under her shoulders and gently pulling her closer to himself. “Mmm, you’re soft.”

“You’re calling me soft, are you?” she giggled while arching her eyebrow.

“Stop. I didn’t mean like that,” he clarified. “You know that.”

“I know, you Silly Goose,” she laughed; her voice sounding like gentle bells to his ears. “Thanks, Dave.”

“For what?”

She looked him in the eye. “For waiting until after our marriage.” She shrugged. “If you had pushed enough, I would’ve caved and slept with you after we moved to Tucson. You never did though.”

“As I told you in Wabash, I respect your wishes and dreams too much, Angie.” He straightened her hair so as to have a full view of her face. “You’ve always given much, much more than just your body to our relationship. Your compassion and heart are off the charts. I love you. So I had to wait another nine months? Big deal. I had your companionship and your affection. That’s what I needed.”

“And I love your understanding and waiting, Sweetie,” she indicated.

Cybelle knocked on the door and stuck her head in. “Whoops!”

“Cybbie, umm….do you mind?” he inquired, feeling rather embarrassed.

“Yeah right. I….” The younger sister shut the door and shook her head. Idiot! It’s their honeymoon. Of course, they’re going to be together!

“It’s okay now,” Angie advised while sticking her head out of the door. “What’s going on?”

“Sorry to interrupt but it’s 7:30. Figured you two might want to shower before dinner,” the priestess informed her.

“Sure. We’ll meet you there,” Angie agreed before shutting the door. “That was the chow bell.”

“I figured as much,” he concurred. “Let’s get that shower. Then we can get going.”

“Sounds good to me,” she replied as they headed for the shower.


****


[Lodge Restaurant—8:02 PM]

Dave and Angie joined his sister and her husband for dinner, looking forward to the glazed ham and scalloped potatoes.

“Two minutes late. Not like you, Dave,” Mike quipped.

“We’re on our honeymoon,” Dave replied with a shrug and then giving Angie’s hand a squeeze. “A couple of minutes here or there isn’t going to kill us.”

“You said it,” Cybelle concurred.

“Besides we’re here to relax, right?” Angie interjected.

“Right. Let’s order.” Dave got the attention of the waitress who took the orders and left quickly. Then he pulled out a map of the area. “Compliments of the front desk.” He spread it out over the table. “We did most everything on the left side today. I figure tomorrow we could do the right side and get some ice fishing in on Hunter Lake. That is if it’s acceptable to you all?”

“I’m game,” Angie agreed.

“As long as the ice is safe, sure,” Cybelle jumped in.

“I’ll go for that,” Mike noted, making it unanimous.

“Our decision’s made then. Hunter Lake, it is. Let’s dig in, guys. Early start tomorrow,” Dave urged.

The others followed his lead, digging in as soon as the main course arrived. Of course there was coffee to drink, desserts to consume and further plans to be made….but such was the vacation meal.

And a relaxing one it was.




Chapter 5 [Next Morning]
[Dave and Angie’s Room—5:00 AM]

Angie stared up at the ceiling, musing about things. Despite being married for much of the previous two weeks, she still woke up periodically to check on her wedding ring and Dave’s band. I wish it would just sink in. Just pinch me.

On cue, a familiar hand caressed her side.

“Okay, Greedy Boy, I know you’re awake,” she giggled.

He chuckled. “Can’t resist my Princess. Do me a favor? Just lie there.” He placed his hand over her heart.

“What?”

“Shh.” He listened to her breathe and felt her heartbeat. “Nice. You know how romantic that is?”

“I’m breathing. So what?”

“Hey, you’re alive and you’re here with me. That’s romantic,” he clarified. Then he pulled her into a hug.

“Thanks, Dave, for making it so easy,” she whispered while reaching under the pillow and producing a little square package. “Guess what time it is?”

“That time? Hey, why not?” he agreed while kissing her again.


****


[Hunter Lake—11 AM]

After a two hour snowmobile ride around the nearby trails, the two couples found their way to the ice house. While the girls set up lunch, the guys drilled holes and set the tip ups for fish. Every half hour, someone would take a sled and head out across the ice to check the traps.

And in between, they kept warm in the shanty, playing cards and getting caught up.


****


“This is the life,” Mike declared while munching on a hot dog.

“Enjoy it, guy,” Dave told him while checking over a spool of fishing line for snags. “It’s almost time for your run.”

“The lines are okay, Dave,” Angie assured him. “I just got back twenty minutes ago.”

“Fish can bite at any second,” Cybelle disagreed from the mini-stove.

“I get the point,” her husband conceded while throwing his coat on and heading out into the cold.

“We’d better have something good when he gets back,” Dave noted dryly while watching Mike get on the sled.

“He’ll get over it,” Cybelle assumed.

The newlyweds eyed the priestess, wondering what was going on. During the whole trip, they’d detected a tension between the others. Granted, they decided not to say anything and let it work itself out. But it was clear something was going on. Accordingly, they focused on themselves.

“You okay?” he asked Angie.

“Yeah I’m fine. Thanks,” she expressed while rubbing his shoulder. “This is like when we were sitting in Daddy’s sugar shack.”

“It is, isn’t it?” he realized while hugging her.

“Nothing except us and the solitude. Sorry, Cybelle,” she pointed out.

“That’s fine. It’s actually great to see you two like this,” the priestess noted while stirring the soup. “Hope you still like chicken noodle, Dave.”

“I thought you were doing the vegan thing, Sis,” he presumed.

“The broth’s fine. You three can handle the meat,” she informed him. “Mike will really like this when he gets back. I know you still hate the veggies in it.”

“Never liked them,” Dave noted.

“Don’t I know it?” Angie sighed. Hearing the sled outside, she stuck her head out to find Mike hauling two large trout across the ice to them. “Looks great.”

“It is great! This is halfway to quota,” Mike told her.

“Meantime, it’s lunch time and chicken soup’s on,” Cybelle advised.

“Now that’s what I like!” Mike cheered while stringing the fish up. Then he joined them for soup.


****


[Three hours later]

It only took three more check-runs for the quartet to fill their quota—thanks to a hot streak of luck and the fish biting up a sudden storm. After securing their quarry in Mike’s trailer, the couples cleaned up the shack and took off up and down the trails again.

Dave stopped them on top of the ridge overlooking the valley below and surveyed the terrain. “Yeah, nice view!”

“You sure know how to pick them, Sweetums,” Angie agreed while pulling up beside him. She took out her camera and snapped a picture.

“Nature is a wonderful thing,” Cybelle agreed while musing, The goddess does provide in all of her wonders. Seeing Mike with the thermos, she added, “Cocoa time?”

“Definitely!” Mike cheered. “Got to enjoy the whole family thing, right?”

For Dave and Angie, they couldn’t agree more. With no tension or trouble anywhere nearby, it definitely was time to relax.



Chapter 6 [Departure Day]

Angie blinked while waking up. The special weekend had flown by in a flash. Other than the drive back, the honeymoon was over. Now it was back to reality. Some of it wasn’t so much fun but it’s great to be married!

“I know what you’re thinking,” Dave commented.

“Oh? And what is that?”

“That you’re bumming over us leaving this paradise,” he presumed while ruffling her hair. “Let’s promise ourselves something, okay?”

“Sure.”

“Promise that you’ll work with me to recreate this paradise every day in Tucson. All right? That we can have something like this for the rest of our lives,” he requested before kissing her forehead.

Her eyes shone warmly into his. “Every day. I so promise.”

“As do I,” he agreed while embracing her. “Don’t rush out. We still have some time yet.”

And for the thousandth time, Angie mused about how lucky she truly was to have a warm hearted man beside her.

And he felt the same way for her.


****


[Noon]

After lounging together for far too long (but not really caring about it), Dave and Angie finally conceded the point and got up. They showered, ate some Belgian waffles and packed the room up.

Finally, it was time to go. After Dave had shut the back of the trunk, the couple exchanged hugs with Mike and Cybelle.

“Be careful, you two. It’s a long drive back to Arizona,” Cybelle indicated.

“Don’t we know it? We’ll be okay,” Dave assured them.

“We have enough friends along the way,” Angie added while they hugged each other again. “You both okay?”

“We’ll be out of here as soon as they come to pick up the sleds,” Mike replied. “You two should get moving. You’ve got a lot of miles to cover.”

“Right. Well thanks again for the help with the wedding and everything,” Dave agreed while shaking his brother-in-law’s hand. “And for this weekend.”

“Our pleasure, Dude. Hang in there, you both. Hey, you’re really good for each other. Don’t screw it up. Got it?” Mike lectured good naturedly with a grin on his face.

As they got into Bessie, Angie called back, “We won’t! But thanks for looking out for us!”

“What’s family for?” Cybelle asked as the car drove away. What indeed?


****