That was so sweet

woohoo

cath

I do enjoy a good Bobby/Tara moment.

A little bit of comic relief in midst of all the angst. And the way you built up that kiss That was exquisite!

kav

Yeah!!!! How Sweet!!!!!

Rachel

Such a beautiful post! I loved it. You write Tara's feelings so well and Bobby too.
Can't wait for more.

She hadn’t budged when his lips touched hers. Her eyes fluttered to a close, only to pop wide open again when he pulled away with a mumbled apology.
He felt like such a heel, he realized. She’d just stood there and he couldn’t control himself. His eyes searched hers, begging her silently for a measure of forgiveness because he’d taken advantage of her when she wasn’t seeking that sort of attention.

Tara’s mind had gone straight back to her front porch and she stared at him wordlessly for a moment while her mind scrambled to form a coherent thought to counter act the pounding of her heart. ‘Kiss him… Kiss him… Kiss him…’ The mantra of her traitorous heart tumbled over and over. Her mind protested, telling her that heart didn’t care about logic or sensibility and all that. Heart didn’t remember all the work that mind had put in the last time … trying to erase the disappointment and heartache that his words had left behind.

Tara inwardly told her mind to shut up and finally followed her heart’s suggestion, reaching out to stop him from turning away from her as she tugged on his arm, causing him to lower his head to hers. She stretched up slightly, now very glad that she’d worn a pair of pumps today and wrapped her arms around his neck as she pulled him back to her. She offered him her lips, pouring her need and desperation into the kiss as she tried to convey her true feelings to him.

Bobby had been surprised when she pulled him back to her, but he willingly participated in their kiss, his tongue seeking entrance to her mouth, delighted when her lips parted and she allowed him to plunder her mouth. His hands had roamed slightly, caressing her back, before pulling her to him with a hand across her lower back and his other hand came back up to caress her cheek while they kissed. He reluctantly pulled away and rested his forehead against hers as they struggled to catch their breath. His nose brushed hers as he lifted his head and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Tara…”

She raised a finger and laid it across his lips. “Not yet.” She said softly. “You’ll take me to work in the morning since my car is in the garage already, right?” He nodded. “So… your place or mine for take out?” She asked, looking up at him. “You do still have some work clothes at my place from that one time a couple months ago when you needed to be able to change after work right away.” They had grown close enough that they could end up crashing on the couch after work, watching movies. But neither of them ever wanted to admit that they had forgotten clothes at the other’s… because of how their teammates would have jumped on that tidbit and teased them mercilessly.

He thought about it for a few moments. “Yours.” He said, reaching to caress her cheek a final time before settling her in the car and shutting the door for her before he went around the car to get in. “I like the Chinese place close to yours. I feel like Lemon Chicken tonight.”

She rolled her eyes. “You just love me for the Lemon Chicken around the corner.”

“Not only that.” Bobby said before he registered what he’d actually admitted.

Tara’s cheeks pinked slightly as she looked at him, studying him as he drove. “Well… I’d better order it then, maybe it will be there around the same time we are.” She commented as she dug her phone out of her purse to place their order.

glad the heart won over the mind

cath

Tara!!!!! The heart should always win over the mind...especially in love!

YAY!!!!!!!!



So sweet!

Phew -- I was afraid that we were headed for some awkward moments...but it looks like senseless kissing reigned!

kav

I don't know why, but this part is so funny to me. Is that sad?

I love that he admitted that he loved her... though he didn't actually say it! But, still, he admitted it!

They soon arrived at her place and he got her things out of his trunk. She looked at him as they headed up the stairs on the porch, seeing he was about to say something again. “Bobby… we will talk about what just happened… just like we’ll talk about tomorrow some more…” She said quietly. “Just… let’s have dinner first, please?”

He considered her words and slowly nodded. “If that’s what you want, Tara luv.” He said simply, waiting for her to unlock the door. They walked in and he set her things down while she bustled around turning on lights and things. “So… what exactly have I left here?” He asked, knowing that it might be a larger stack than he thought. There had been a few times that they had been about to watch a movie or something and it had been a good thing that his dry cleaning had been out in the car because they had gotten a call.

Tara laughed. “You’ve got enough it would seem as though you moved in without telling me.” She teased. “It’s all on the shelf by the dryer.” She said, motioning him towards her laundry room… well… laundry closet was more like it.

Bobby chuckled and moved towards the closed, somewhat tickled to see a stack of his clothes neatly folded on the shelf and a couple dress shirts and pants hanging on hangers off the end of the shelf. “Guess I should have come over here before I did laundry last week.” He called out to her, a teasing tone in his voice. “I wouldn’t have needed to do laundry yet.”

She laughed. “But then you’d be out of luck tonight.” She called back, her cheeks pinking slightly when she recalled pulling his clothes out of the dryer with hers. Even though they weren’t involved, she found something satisfyingly domestic about folding his t-shirts, jeans and boxers and putting them on the shelf, wishing that she dared to clear out a dresser drawer to put them in. She pushed the thought from her mind as she bustled about her kitchen making tea the way they did when they ordered Chinese food. The thought was replaced by how it had made her feel to iron his shirts and straighten out his ties that he’d left behind, it was a slightly unsettling feeling then… but having just kissed him rather desperately the feeling warmed her all over.

He grinned as he pulled a pair of jeans out of the stack and grabbed a t-shirt to wear before he headed into the bathroom to change. He came out, folding his clothes and putting them on the chair by the door, just as the bell rang with the food delivery. “I’ll get it.” He told Tara. “I asked you to dinner, remember?” He grinned at her.

She smiled back. “That’s right.” She nodded. “I’ll just go change then and meet you at the table. It’s all set and the tea kettle should be boiling soon for the tea.” She waited until he acknowledged it before slipping off into her bedroom to change into some comfortable clothes.

sounds as though they are already half settled in to domesticity

cath

It not going to be much of a change when it becomes more permanent huh!

They are so cute together!

Hope Tara isnt having second thoughts!!!

Tara would have Bobby domesticated in no time

Okay, in my books you are, like, TOTALLY committed when you're washing his boxers! There's no going back now! More please.

kav

Such a wonderful imagine. I'd dare, Tara. I'd dare.

The fact that she folded his boxers was kind of cute, too... but why did he leave them over there in the first place?

8/29 Post -

I'm with Linny: In a round about way he admitted it! Now, think about that Tara!

8/30 Post - She folded his boxers AND ironed his shirts? Oh, Tara, luv, you really do love him!

Now you have an inkling he might, just might, love you back!

Ok, Mione, I see you lurking out there! It's time...it's been two days since your last post...are we going to get one this evening? The "talk".... with lots of warm fuzzies .... a nice post to go nite nite on!

Lynn

He paid for their dinner and took it into the kitchen, setting the containers out while he poured the hot water into the teapot, over the tea leaves, and set the lid in place to let the tea steep. He smiled when he saw that she had ignored plates and had merely set a smaller plate out on the table for the egg rolls and potstickers that she had ordered. He opened those containers and set them on the plate, going to her spice cupboard to pull out the soy sauce , setting it on the table before he sat down. He glanced up at her when she appeared in the doorway. His heart almost stopped, it wasn’t the first time that she’d lounged in a pair of shorts and a tank top, but for some reason tonight, he found it to be highly distracting.

She cleared her throat lightly, smirking at him when the tips of his ears turned red. “I see you found everything.” She said softly as she came over to the table, snitching a piece of broccoli out of his Lemon Chicken.

“Right where I watched you get it the last time.” He commented, glaring at her teasingly for stealing out of his dinner. “What did you get?” He asked, she often ordered something different. “You owe me a piece of broccoli or some other type of vegetation.”

Tara laughed. “Other type of vegetation…?” She inquired, still laughing as she opened her container.

“You know what I mean.” He said, leaning over to look at her dinner. “Aha!” He said. “Broccoli Beef… you owe me broccoli.” He said, brandishing a pair of chopsticks at her.

She rolled her eyes. “Fine… take away.” She held the container out to him, watching as he fished a piece of broccoli out of her dinner and popped it in his mouth. “All better?” She asked, reaching for an egg roll and taking a bite.
“Much.” He grinned at her, deftly picking up a potsticker with his chopsticks and eating it. He set his chopsticks down to pour their tea before picking them up again and eating. “So… Tara luv…” He said, watching her as she systematically picked out the beef in her dinner and ate it before starting in on the broccoli.

“What if there were no hypothetical questions?” She asked, abruptly, chewing on an egg roll again.

“What?” His confusion was clear in his voice.

“You know… hypothetically… if there were no hypothetical questions… where would we be?” She asked. “No one would be able to be generally vague …”

“Or get permission for something that they don’t want to own up to having already done.” Bobby mused, as he ate. “No ability to ask the girl of your dreams how she would respond if you were to ask her something.”

Tara paused, a piece of broccoli halfway to her mouth, she studied him carefully, putting the bite in her mouth and chewing it before speaking. “So… Hypothetically… just what would you ask the girl of your dreams if she was here?” She asked.

“What if there were no hypothetical questions, Tara luv?”

She looked at him, just as confused as he had been.

“I don’t need to consider the hypothetical question, when the girl of my dreams is sitting right here.” He said softly. “And I really want to know if she’ll go out with me on a real date.”

Her cheeks turned pink. “Yes…” She whispered, her eyes locking with his. “When?”

“This weekend?” He suggested, hopefully. Tara nodded. Bobby smiled at her and leaned towards her. “And then I’d ask her if I could have a kiss.” He said, his eyes serious.

“She’d say yes.” Tara said softly, smiling at him when he smiled again and leaned into her, his lips gentle on hers as he captured them, his hand coming up behind her head to support the back of her neck as they kissed.

nice meltilicious post there

cath

Whoo-hoo! I love the thought of no hypothetical questions!

This little guy is grooving even if your are eating him in this post...that's how jazzed he is at the turn of events.

kav

I think they can safely drop the "hypothetically"

Oh, I get to use this smiley....

Now, all I have to say, Mione, is: You Left It There? With Me half

It had now been 23 hours and 2 minutes. Don't you think it's time for the rest of that post? You've tortured us enough for this holiday weekend!

Lynn

Btw, what is a potsticker?

please come back and give us more!

Mione, I've been away for the past several days without the use of a computer!! I just caught up on your story, and it's incredible!! You have captured the emotions of this sad time perfectly, plus have given us a love story!! I'm spending some of my time thinking about this tragedy and what it has meant to each of us (and continues to mean). The rest of my time has been spent in chuckling and giggling as Bobby and Tara move closer and closer to each other!! I love the way they were each "talking" to themselves about the other!!!

I know this has to be difficult, and you are doing an outstanding job!!!

Joy

I love how Bobby and Tara's relationship is developing. I loved the hypothetical discussion! Very cute.

Looking forward to more,

Sairs

LOL... Lynn! Of course it wasn't enough time for torture... I was gone for the weekend... it was hard enough to get that much written. And yesterday I spent the first half driving home, only to not be able to focus enough on it last night. So... guess what... I go back to work and voila... a post. Oh and potstickers are a type of Chinese dumpling, they're yummy!
***********************************************************************

She pulled away, her eyes studying his. Bobby brought his hand around, cupping her cheek briefly before he picked up his chopsticks again. He selected a piece of broccoli from his container and held it out to her, holding it in front of her mouth. He smiled at her as she opened her mouth and accepted it, savoring the sharp tang of the lemon sauce that coated it.

She picked up her own chopsticks and did the same, offering him a piece of broccoli from her chopsticks. It was a solemn and silent signal that they were changing their relationship…. that the ability to accept food when it was offered on someone else’s utensils was somehow connected to your willingness to accept their germs.

They finished their dinner, laughing as they shared the fortunes out of their fortune cookies. She collected the containers and went to the kitchen to throw them away, running smack dab into his chest because he’d followed her with the tea things. She blushed slightly before taking them from him, rinsing them out and setting them aside to deal with later. She turned around again, feeling his eyes on her. “Now what, Bobby?” She asked softly, looking at him.

He studied her for a moment before offering her his hand. He closed it around hers, smiling at how small her hand was. They went out to the living room and sat down on the couch. He held her hand, his thumb stroking the back of it before he looked at her. “Tell me more about Leslie.” He said, catching the flicker of pain that lit her eyes when he said her name.

Her lower lip quivered slightly. “I miss her so much, Bobby.” She said, her eyes filling with tears. “I never cared that I didn’t have a lot of close girl friends to go shopping with and stuff… Leslie and I would take the girls and go… I thought her job was fascinating and she couldn’t get enough of mine.” She fell silent, not noticing that a tear was slowly making it’s way down her cheek.

Bobby tugged on her hand, pulling her closer so that he could press a kiss to the top of her head as she rested her head on his chest and told him more stories about Leslie’s family. About the girls… and how the little one had told her that she would be sure to tell her all about the ‘Kanga’oos’ when they got back.

He chuckled at that and rubbed her as she turned more into him, burying her face in his shoulder. “It’s tough.” He finally said. “I never realized that you hadn’t made it in that morning, Tara luv.” He said. “I’m sorry…”

“For what?”

“For not noticing until this year that it bothered you so much.” He said softly.

Tara raised her head to look at him, sniffing a bit to keep from crying again. “You noticed this year.” She said softly, reaching to touch his cheek. “That more than makes up for not noticing.” She whispered, leaning in towards him. He closed the distance between them and pressed his lips to hers, kissing her as gently as he had earlier.

wonderfully tender post

cath

It's both so cute and so true!

It's both so cute and so true!

Hmmm, I'll have to look for potstickers the next time I get Chinese food. I've never seen them down here, not even on the menus, unless they just call them dumplings.

I'm glad Bobby is taking it slow and easy with Tara. That is exactly what she needs at this moment in time. And wonderful of Bobby to sense her need to talk about Leslie and her girls. Now, the question is, will he be able to squelch his own need to deepen his kisses, recognizing when the time is right for Tara? Somehow, I think he will!

Lynn

a very tender and beautiful post!!!

Bobby is being so gentle with Tara - it's so sweet!! And, I love the symbolism in sharing the broccoli!!!

Joy

I am hooked hun! This is a fab story and I remember all those emotions too! Keep up the good work!

ok just read this all and its very powerful and you right emotion so well

my memories of that day are so vivid I had come home from the second week of school and was curled up watching one of the kids tv chanels and the phone rang for my brother who took the call from the bathroom and his friend told him and he rushed down in his dressing gown to tell us to turn over and they were replaying the images and I just remember being scared and shocked and praying people would be ok I was only 13 but the magnitude of it was so huge I will never ever forget it

She moaned softly and wrapped her arms around his neck, trying to deepen the kiss, only to feel him pull back and his finger trace her lips. She opened her eyes and looked at him. “What…?”

Bobby smiled. “I wasn’t sure that tonight was the night to take our kisses to that level.” He said softly, his hand shifting to cup her cheek as he rubbed his thumb over her lower lip. “You know… taking advantage of your weakened emotional state tonight…”

Tara quirked an eyebrow at him. “Oh yes… because you were the one trying to deepen the kiss…?” She teased, her eyes retaining a touch of sadness. “What have we been doing Bobby?” She asked. “All this time… hanging out… watching movies. You’ve changed your clothes completely here…” She shrugged. “Wouldn’t you say that in a way we’ve been dating already… I never asked… why weren’t you going out on dates?” She asked, remembering all the weekends that he had just shown up at her front door… waved movies and takeout at her until she’d let him in.

Bobby smiled. “Because I didn’t need to go out to find what I was looking for.” He said quietly. “I just had to come here.” He trailed a finger down her cheek. “That’s been okay with you, right?” He asked. She nodded. “Good.” He said before a slight frown creased his brow. “Why do I have so many clothes here?” He asked, puzzled. “I honestly didn’t think that I left much here at all…” He scratched his head. “And just what did we do that had me leaving boxers…?”

She giggled. “We didn’t do THAT… if that’s what you’re asking.” She teased. He rolled his eyes… he knew that… She reached for his hands and held them in hers. “We got called out on a case… you were here after working out and we had just started to watch a movie. You got your dry cleaning from the car and must have dug in your bag to find something because I got home when you dropped me off and there was no bag but there was this entire pile of dirty gym clothes and casual clothes in my bathroom.” She raised an eyebrow at him. “Are you sure you just weren’t looking to have your laundry done?”

Bobby laughed. “Now that you mention it… I did wonder how I ended up with an empty gym bag when I got home. There were boxers in the bag… that’s how there are boxers on my shelf.”

Her heart raced. His shelf… She smiled at him. “That’s right. You’ve got a lot of clothes on your shelf.”

He nodded. “You didn’t have to wash them though… you should have just called me to come get them from you.” He said, smiling apologetically.

She rolled her eyes. “It was easier just to toss them in with my laundry… you would have been embarrassed that you left them here.” She explained. “So it’s quite all right. Honest… I didn’t mind.” Her cheeks pinked when she admitted that.

He thought she was gorgeous when she blushed. “Okay… As long as you didn’t mind.” He teased, tugging on her hands until she was leaning against him again. He raised a hand and brushed the hair away from her face. “I should go…” He said quietly.

“Please stay…” She whispered, her eyes searching his. “Not that I’m a forward woman…” She smiled. “But I really don’t want to be alone yet and …” She chewed on her lower lip. “I feel safe with you.”

He caressed her cheek again, kissing her softly until she broke away and snuggled into him, her head resting on his chest as he held her close, talking quietly about the next day and it’s significance again. He rubbed her back gently as she fell asleep on him, one arm wrapped tightly around him as if she was afraid he’d go away. He thought about the evening for a while before he also dozed off.

aww sweet he's so caring and protective and its lovely

What a lovely post!!!

Joy

Well, I'm back to wanting a BOBBY again!

He is sooooo sweet and protective and caring and loyal...I love it!!!!!

I'm only going to use one word to describe this post, Mione....PERFECT!

Well, I guess technically that is 13 words...oh, just have to add another one...can't leave it on that number! SWOONWORTHY....

Ok, a few more...That is almost as good as J/S...and I didn't think B/T stories could make me feel THAT way?

Thanks for the GREAT fuzzy this morning!

***And I was going to try (really) to shorten my comments!***

Lynn

They are just so cute together!

Please can I have one too.

Very sweet...awww

A lovely post!

Sairs

beautiful post

cath

I love the way you're building the tenderness in this love story. What Bobby and Tara have here goes so much deeper than mere passion or affection and tying their burgeoning relationship into such an emotional time makes it so much more emotional -- for them and for your readers. Plus, I love that Tara will now have a happy memory to buoy her when this particular anniversary comes around again.

kav

Ok, I'm starting to cry already but everyone else has shared their stories so here's mine.
I was 14 and homeschooled. My dad had run down to the gas station to get some milk for breakfast and he came home to tell us about the first plane. I remember running downstairs and turning on the TV. The reporter was standing on the roof of a building with the towers in the background and in the middle of the replay of the first plane hitting we heard him cry out. The tower had fallen and then the other plane appeared and hit the second tower. I remember the horror and then the sudden realization that I knew that airline because the husband of a family in our church flew for them. They had moved to New England so he could be closer to his family and he was now flying the Boston-LA stint the other way. I remember the phone ringing and my parents coming in with the news that he had been the co-pilot on the first plane.
I fell apart. His daughter was a year older than me and his son was my younger brother's age. I curled up in a ball and just cried and screamed. I couldn't believe it was happening but it was. The kids went to school with my older brother.
My parents decided that we would go pick up my brother from school and I will never forget the scene we came upon in that building. Kids were holding each other and crying in the hallways. The family was in the principal's office with our youth pastor. I can remember seeing them walking out of that office like it was yesterday.
The remainder of the day was spent at their house trying to be some comfort. Later that week we went to the funeral at our church. It was so full that they had to tele-cast it to another location. Pilots and families from the airline were there and it was a wonderful celebration of life.
I guess the real end of my story happened months later when their daughter had her junior prom. She wore a white dress with an U.S. flag on the bodice. Several years later, I had the chance to go to the site of the World Trade Center. It was an experience I will never forget.
I know that God has a plan in everything and that He uses even the most evil event to bring about His glory. I know of at least one couple who are both pilots that started coming to our church because of that funeral and became believers off of that. I pray that theirs is not the only story of redemption from 9/11.
Please pray for this family this year. I know it seems like only yesterday for me so I don't even presume to know how they're feeling.