Run

Run Together: Part 04

Gwenbeamed from ear to ear as she rushed forward and planted a kiss onhis cheek before grabbing the set of clothes he'd indicated was forher and rushing out of the door to change.

Bengrinned as he started to change into his own set.

Severalminutes later the cousins were at the bottom of the stairs, matchinggrins on their faces as Ben pulled Gwen out the door and into thebackyard, anything their parents may have said was lost as the doorclosed.

Benand Gwen giggled as they ran through the snow, flakes gently coveringtheir jackets as they ran, their feet crunching through the inch ortwo of powder that had already settled.

Benpulled her through the backyard to the forest that bordered theproperty, his smile grew as he heard her giggle behind him. Hecontinued to pull her deeper into the trees until the house washidden from sight.

Spinningon his heels he pressed her against a tree and captured her lips withhis, his tongue gently caressing her lips as their kisses grewheated.

Pullingaway he allowed her to wrap her arms around his neck, the snowflakeslanding gently on her nose and eyelashes, causing her to blink andwrinkle her nose. Ben couldn't remember a time that she had lookedmore beautiful than she did at that moment with the glow from thecity lights reflecting off the clouds and giving the entire forest asurreal and ethereal atmosphere.

"Ilove you," he whispered, afraid to break the spell the falling snowwas weaving around them.

"Ilove you too," she answered softly as she pulled him close andpressed her lips to his.

Theyboth smiled through the kisses they shared for the next few minutesbefore the cold began to seep into their bodies and their lipsseparated from each other.

Asthe cold settled they just stared into each other's eyes, the lovein their emerald depths shining through. With matching smiles theyleaned forward and touched noses, softly rubbing them together in ashow of affection, while kissing was good, these gentle touches weremagical to them.

Pullingapart they walked back hand in hand toward the house, stopping in anearby clearing to play in the snow and throw snowballs at eachother, not just as a cover for their flushed faces, but also becauseit was fun.

Laughingand brushing the snow from their hair, Ben and Gwen stumbled into thekitchen and collapsed into the kitchen chairs as they talked abouttheir snowball fight.

Sandrasmiled as she placed two cups of hot chocolate in front of them.

"Thanks, Mom," Ben said as he let go of Gwen's hand and grabbed the cup,the heat melting his frozen fingers.

Gwengrinned as she reached for her own cup.

"Thanks, Mom," she said absently as she and Ben continued to talk abouttheir outdoor adventure.

Sandrawas shocked at first by Gwen's slip of the tongue, something thatshe didn't even notice, but after a moment the shock wore off andSandra sighed. Poor Gwen had not had a very nurturing mother, whileNatalie did indeed try her best, she was still very aloof whenraising Gwen, so of course the poor girl had latched onto thematernal caring that Sandra offered. Sandra knew she wasn't perfecteither, but she would do what she could to fill the gap Natalie hadleft as a maternal figure while not stepping on Natalie's toes asGwen's mother.

Glancingat the wall clock Sandra noticed that it was almost time for dinnerto be served.

"Alrightkids," she said as she took their now empty mugs, interruptingtheir argument about who actually won the snowball fight. "It'stime to go get cleaned up for dinner. It should be ready in a fewminutes."