"Girl, look, we gotta get home," Michael tells me, exhaling loudly between our kisses.

Yeah, it's about twenty minutes since we started making out under the sunset, and it's dark now, but that didn't stop me an Michael from enjoying each other's company.

"Oh, give it five more minutes," I reply, finally seperating my lips from Michael's to catch my breath.

He's really the most perfect kisser you will ever know. Beats Alex by miles, for sure.

"Sweetheart, no, c'mon. It's dark now, we're wet through, and we've had a perfect night anyway! We can just do all this over again next time. Even the pushing-into-pool business."

"What a kill-joy," I chuckle.

"Anyway, if we stay in this water any longer, we're gonna get the chills, warm water or not," Michael says.

I love it when he acts all doctory. His little pre-diagnosis is cute.

"If you say so, doctor Michael. C'mon, let's go back to.. well, wherever we came here from."

Michael climbs up into the boat, water dripping from every part of his body.. why does that turn me on? Why do I find Michael, soaking wet, sexy? Hmm, not sure.

Maybe the Extreme Fever, or something.

"I'm kinda wet here," I protest, and Michael offers his hand for me to take. I grab it, and he hauls me up into the boat, not a single drop of energy needed. He's damn strong!

"There ya go," he giggles softly.

"Thanks," I smile, and I wring my hair out to get rid of some of the water.

Michael removes the hair bobble that has kept his hair in a ponytail, and his wet black curls fall down his back. Wow, his hair looks damn perfect!

"My hair is soaking!" Michael chuckles, before starting to wring his own hair out.

I stop him by placing my hand over his.

"Stop," I say softly. "Let me do it."

"Are you sure? My hair can be a little fiddly when it's wet."

"Ah, I don't care. I love the look of your hair. I always wanted to touch it, but I thought that would be a slightly.. pervy.. and creepy action.." I laugh nervously.

I sounded so stupid saying that. But hey, I can't just un-say things. Michael smiles, stifling a giggle.

"You can touch my hair any time you want, it's fine."

"I.. er.. feel happier knowing that?" I reply unsurely, chuckling softly.

"I'm glad I make you feel that way. By the way," he stops to check his watch, '"it's currently 10:23pm. We got seven minutes to get outta here and back home."

"But I haven't done your hair yet," I say, before he turns and looks at me, deep in the eyes, and I raise my arm and touch a lock of his hair with my finger.

It's so soft, despite it being wet.

"Well, you better get doin' it, aintcha?" Michael chuckles, and raises his arms up, as if surrendering, indicating that I'm allowed to keep playing with his hair.

"I love your hair," I say, twirling a lock of it in between my fingers.

"Thanks, but it's a right pain in the ass to get it just right in the mornings.. I'm not a morning person, and my hair just makes it worse."

Why does his cussing sound so cute? I mean, it wasn't a major word, but still. Adorable.

"I'm not a morning person, either," I reply. "Being a morning person requires effort, which I don't like to give."

Michael giggles at my comment, "that's my logic exactly! Mornings require effort you just don't wanna put in."

"Exactly," I wring out his hair, but gently, as not to hurt him, "and I think I'm about done with this now."

"Thanks, Little Miss Hair-Stylist," Michael smirks, then places his hands in the water, trying to paddle us back to dry land.

Michael was right; I do feel cold now.

"Gosh, it's a little breezy, isn't it?" I ask. Michael stops for a moment.

"Yeah, it sure is. I would ask if you want my jacket, but that kinda got wet, too."

'"Such a sweet man for considering it, though."

"What can I say, I'm full of ways to impress the ladies."

"You're full of yourself," I retort with a giggle, earning me a playful slap on the arm.

"That kinda happened to hurt!" I cry, pretending to be upset.

"Is that so?" Michael asks, pulling a funny face, causing me to giggle.

"Yes," I try to regain the frown, but it doesn't work, "yes it is so."

"Would you like doctor Michael to kiss it better for you?"

"Uh.. sure," I smile.

Michael strokes the area he slapped, on my arm, and starts to kiss it softly. His lips feel so good, they're so soft! And it's sweet that he's doing this, too. I like having a doctor to make me feel better, as it were..

"Does that feel better?" he asks, before kissing my arm one last time.

'"Much," I reply, "thank you, doctor Michael."

"That's no problem, patient Becky. Anything for you," he grins like the Cheshire Cat, causing me to laugh once again.

"C'mon, we better get home," I say through the laughter. We work together to paddle back to dry land, and we get off the boat.

"Dry land!" I cry happily, and I get down on my hands and knees and kiss the ground.

"That floor is damn lucky to be kissed by you," Michael chuckles.

'"Um, yeah.. I don't know why I did that," I blush slightly, and Michael wraps his arm around me.

"Maybe next time, I'll have to dress up as a floor for ya, maybe you'll kiss me more, then."

"I kissed you more tonight than I ever kissed Alex in a lifetime!" I reply, slapping his arm.

"Blah, blah, blah. Point is, we got nine more dates, meaning nine more fun evenings to plan!" Michael says.

"It sure does. And I can't wait," I reply.

"Neither can I.." Michael and I enter the building, where the life jackets are kept, "Joe! Joe my man, where are you?"

Joe walks in a moment later, "I'm here, calm yourself!"

Michael chuckles. "Thanks for tonight, Joe. It's been perfect for us."

"You look a little wet, Michael," Joe states the obvious.

Michael looks down at his clothing, an expression of shock on his face.

"Really? Joe, thank you for pointing that out for me! I never woulda noticed!" he says sarcastically.

"A'right, a'right. I get it, sarcasm. Lowest form of wit, blah blah. I'm glad you had a good night," Joe replies.

Michael's look of fake-shock turns to a warm smile.

"Thanks, man. It's been great. See you 'round!"

Michael takes my hand, and we walk back to mum and dad's house.

--

"Mom! Dad! We're home!" I call from the hallway. Dad comes in first.

"How was it?" he asks, then looks at us, his eyes widened a little. "Did you fall in the sea or something?"

"Oh, no.. we went on this romantic boat ride, and we fell in the water," Michael explains, "but it was lovely, thank you."

Mom comes in. "Hi guys, how was it? Enjoy yourselves?"

Good, she kept her promise of asking how the date was. Thanks, mom. Love ya.

"It was great, mom, real great!" I reply happily. Mom smiles.

"Michael, did you enjoy yourself with Becky?"

Michael looks so confused now. Last time they spoke, mum got mad at him.

"It was lovely spending the evening with your daughter, and I look forward to our next date. As for the wet through.. us.. there is a valid explanation--"

"It's ok. Just go to bed, the pair of you. I hope you both had a good night, and I'll see you both in the morning," mom kisses my forehead, then... Michael's!

She's good in this acting thing. I owe her for this. Her and dad leave the hallway and make their way upstairs, leaving me and Michael alone.

"Ok, your mother was nice to me.. how?"

"Maybe it's just a phase, or maybe she's really warming to you," I reply.

"Or maybe, she's acting to make me feel better... though, why she'd do that, I have no idea. She hates me."

"Of course she doesn't, silly," I say, "it's just a phase."

"I'm a little confused about your mom right now.. I think going to bed, having some time to think is just what we need."

"You're right," I say, yawning a little, "I'm ready for bed now."

"Then, c'mon. But I only have these clothes with me."

"I'm sure dad has some things you can use," I say, leading him upstairs.

We go into the wardrobe in my room, which has some of mom and dad's old stuff, too. Michael looks around, and finds something he likes.

"I'll be right back," he says, dashing from the room to get changed.

I change myself, and dry my body, too. I put on a pair of leggings that fit loosely, and a t-shirt. Nothing too fancy, it's bedtime.

Michael comes back a few moments later, wearing some jogging bottoms and a t-shirt with an eagle on. He looks cute, and his hair's still wet, like mine.

"Beddy-byes," I chuckle, literally jumping onto the bed.

Michael sits by my side.

"Tonight's been fun," Michael smiles, stroking my wet hair gently.

"It has. Thank you," I reply.

"Why thank me? You were the one who made it the best date ever."

"How?"

"By being there."

"Such a gentleman," I stroke his arm softly, "such a gentleman."

"Well, girls are something very special, you gotta treat them that way. You gotta show them that they're worth more than anything in this world.. well, excluding children."

"Yeah.." my voice trails off at the thought of my miscarried child, "children are precious souls."

"That's so true! I mean, I'd love to have children of my own, it's one of the most precious gifts a person can have, and give; The Gift Of Life."

"I could have given that myself, if Alex wasn't.. just.. how different my life would be if Alex hadn't cheated," I say, on the verge of tears.

"I know, I know.. he's something that I'm too nice to say, and he's proven that."

"I still replay the day I found out I was pregnant, in my head, and watch Alex's happy face when I told him.. but now he's.. he killed my child, Michael.." I whisper sorrowfully, and Michael wraps his arms around me.

"Hey, shh, it's ok... look, I'm sorry I brought the subject up, I should have thought of your feelings."

"No, it's ok. I can't just sit around, breaking down into tears every time I see a child.. I've just gotta try and move on.. it's hard, y'know? But it's weird, I'm blessed I had the experience to have a child inside me, but.. it was taken from me too soon. Life isn't fair sometimes," I say.

"You're a strong girl, Becky, and you've been through a lot recently. You've been through a tough break-up, and your child has.. well, y'know. I think you're reacting just fine to it all."

"But Michael, when you say it like that, it sounds so heroic, so amazing. When you're actually living that pain, you learn to deal with it, so much so that you totally block out all the 'brave' and 'heroic' stuff, and you just get on with it."

"That may be so, but the point is, you're still a strong girl, and I don't know anyone that's been through what you have."

'"Thanks," I smile faintly, tears in my eyes, "but I doubt I'm strong. I'm crying now, see?"

"Yeah, that's because you've been strong for too long, and you just need a short break from it. You'll be back to your strong self in no time. It's just a phase. Cos, you really are a strong girl."

"You know how to make me smile, Michael," I say, "thank you.. just for these past few days, you've really helped me, a lot."

"It's what I'm here for, Becky. And, I'm a doctor. It's my job to make people feel better."

"Medically, Michael, not mentally, but yeah, you're right," I chuckle a little, and Michael removes his arms from around me.

"You're every wonder in this world to me," he says, "and I never, ever said that to Lisa."

"Well, aren't I honoured?" I smile.

'"You should be. Cos I only say that to the best girls around."

'"And how many millions of girls have you said that to so far, then?" I ask.

'"Hmm.. we're talking more.. single units of numbers here."

'"You must have a good, strong taste in girls if you only ever said it to a few.. though why I'm one of the girls you said it about, I'll never know."

"Becky.." Michael calls softly, placing his hand under my chin and guiding my head up so I look him in the eyes.

"Yes, Michael?"

"You're not one of 'the girls' I said it about. You're the only girl I said it about."

Author's note: Might rename the chapter later, so tired! xD Can I just say how much I'm loving writing this story? It's so much fun, especially cos I have such wonderful readers, too! Yes, it may not be a super popular book, like some of the Michael fanfics, but I really appreciate how much attention and love I've received for this book so far. Thank you guys.. you're the best! :D