Let's Play!

"About a thirty minute walk? I can carry you if it'll be unpleasant for you? "

He asked her softly.

Willow shook her head and slid from the bed, gathering up the cream dress to put back on.

"I feel completely healthy, and I have shoes. I can walk."

She considered the window thoughtfully

".... what are you thinking, love? "

Willow fidgeted with the front of her dress, glancing his way sheepishly.

"That I wanted to go outside, but the rain will probably be cold."

"Don't worry, darling. I'll warm you up if you get cold. "

He promised with a peck as he went about getting dressed.

Willow's cheeks pinked just slightly as she rushed to push away the inappropriate image that put into her head. She was beginning to think she might be a lost cause.

"That wouldn't get you any closer to your goal."

"I'm sure I'd at least get a few feet nearer my intended target. "

He chuckled, slowly buttoning his shirt up.

Willow slid on her shoes. Focus. There was no reason to be having issues like this. She just had to control herself.

"I'd rather see you taken care of."

Dang it. That sounded like she was flirting with him. Was she flirting? She didn't even know anymore.

"Oh, I can happily arrange such a show for you."

He was beyond flirting of the dark looks he kept shooting towards her were any indication.

She cleared her throat and karate chopped her opposite palm.

"Goals, Ansel. There is a mission at hand."

"I'm aware. See? Clothes and everything. "

He gestured, pointing a foot in shoe at her.

"But..... that doesn't mean we can't plan the after party. "

"you want a party for successfully having dinner?"

Redirect and power on.

"Well, it would feel like a party if I'm giving you such a show. "

He pointed out with a smirk.

And back to full blush. Willow tossed a throw pillow at him.

"We'll see what happens. Maybe you'll have to earn it with good behavior or something."

"Awww, have I been bad up to this point? "

He offered as he caught the pillow, a mock pout on his face.

"yes. Inexcusably naughty, for sure "

Willow crossed her arms and leaned against the door as though she were blameless

"I thought if you liked it, then it had to be good? "

He argued as he slowly advanced on her .


"Let's get going, doll."

He purred, offering a little wink as he headed out the front door.

Willow stepped outside like she had something to prove. As the chilly raindrops splashed on her head, though, she really did cool off some. Her body seemed to get the memo that it had other stuff to do, anyway.

"That's a giant mushroom," she observed as they walked by.

"It is rather large.... squat down, look under it. "

If she did, she would see a small pixie hiding from the rain, clutching a fresh wildflower to it's self.

Willow did so.

"Oh! Hello."

She looked at the little creature.

"You look really cold."

She glanced around, trying to guess where it actually belonged.

"The tree? Do you want to go to the tree hole?"

Ansel was watching Willow, smiling to himself. She was so wonderful.

The creature looked doubtful, clutching the blossom closer as it edged towards Willow with a tiny affirmative nod, but pointed higher up, to the knot about five feet off the ground with rich green Ivy growing out

Willow let go of Ansel's hand for a minute before gently cupping the creature and scurrying over to the indicated knot in the tree.

"There you go."

She tucked it in the dry area and wiped off the stray raindrop or two from the edge. She glanced around the little hole very briefly before backing up and waving.

"Stay dry!"

She returned back to her husband's orbit.

"She was so tiny and cute. The kids would have loved it."

Ansel chuckled, kissing her forehead.

"I'm just very thankful she didn't bite you. You were so kind to help her. "

He seemed to be innocently smitten with her now, heading down the pathway.

"If she's friendly to you, we cold bring the children to meet her. I've not met a creature yet that doesn't understand the young of a species. "

"I asked her before I touched her," she defended.

Willow shrugged at the suggestion, though, her mood dropping just a tiny bit over something private.

"They could hurt her by accident," she pointed out.

"They wouldn't do much, don't worry about that. She's stronger than she looks... I know you did. I thought it was endearing. What's wrong? "

"nothing's wrong," Willow dismissed, having already brushed away whatever it had been.

Unaffected, she shrugged and slid her hand back into his.

"I was just saying why would she bite me when I asked first?"

"Oh, cause they're kinda. . . Moody? At times. Sometimes obvious refusing isn't enough. It they'll take offense at the offer it's self, ya know? "

"oh."

Willow glanced over her shoulder.

"You told me to look at it. I thought it was okay. I can make sure to leave any others alone."

"Willow....."

He slowly stopped, cupping her face in both his hands. He leaned in to kiss her slowly, wanting to sooth her and love her a moment. Lightly stroking her cheek he brushed her nose with his own.

"It was ok. I'd not set you up to intentionally to be harmed. But I didn't actually use my ability. There was a small chance I was wrong or freewill could have played in and something scared the creature or any other thing, really. "

He took a breath, placing a kiss on her forehead.

/ We're a team, love. Part of the team is sharing in tons that bring the other happiness. You love all these creatures you encounter. I want you to enjoy all that you can. /

Safely, obviously.

Willow hadn't been particularly upset or anything. She had merely made note of the information and necessary change and continued on. The sudden change in intensity of his response confused and slightly unsettled her.

"I wasn't holding you responsible for any of it. I just meant that you seemed okay with it, so I thought I was okay to do what I wanted."

Her gaze rested on her hands as she twisted one of the ribbons around her fingers.

"It's okay, either way. This isn't important to me. I just like looking."

".... willow...... it is important to me. "

He reassured softly.

"I'm sorry. "

Should have kept his mouth shut about the small risks. His poor wife. He sucked.

"don't apologize for that."

Willow drew back from him a step or two. She could tell she'd done something wrong, but she just didn't understand exactly what.

"If it's important to you, I should be the one apologizing."

Ansel shook his head.

"I just wanted to share the magic with you. The things that make you light up from the inside. "

He shouldn't have opened his big dumb mouth.

"but... You did?"

Was it that she hadn't reacted the right way on the inside? She had liked the couple of moments. Was she supposed to have felt more?

"Then I broke it by opening my dumb mouth. "

He was upset with himself, like, to the point that he looked like he might cry.

"no, you didn't? I still liked it just the same."

Willow managed a glance before she braved reaching out to slide her hand into his.

"I think you're just hungry. Let's go fix that?"

Ansel sighed. That stung more than it should have. Is this what it was like for human women who were told it was just PMS? Maybe she was right. ....

"I didn't mean to take away something I was giving you. I didn't want that. I was just happy that I had been right about the pixie. "

Willow let her hand fall away since it obviously hadn't brought him any comfort. She had just been trying to give him an out and a change of topic.

"I didn't feel like you had."

Ansel let out a few tears against his still and slowly reached to take her hand.

"How cold are you? "

He asked with a thick voice.

"nothing that would cause a problem."

Willow had mostly tuned out of her body, either way. The growth and persistence of the problem had sucked all of the confidence out of her. She didn't let herself look at anything other than her feet as they went so as not to make any more mistakes.