InsaneJournal

WHO Agents York & Carolina
WHAT Enjoying vacation
WHEN Sunset, Monday Dec 2
WHERE Santorini, Greece
WARNINGS TBD, will update if needed
STATUS Closed | Incomplete gdoc


It wasn’t blazing hot in Greece this time of year but since it was hovering around freezing as the high most days in Madison Valley it was a nice change to be in the seventies. Unlike Wash, Carolina didn’t have any trouble with feeling cold all the time. She actually tended to run the other way (which meant Wash really liked it when he got to sleep between her and York) so wearing her bikini top and board shorts from the cruise ship was just about perfect for walking on the beach.

Aside from feeling like she was way too likely to get shot because she wasn’t wearing armor and the beach was wide open they were perfect anyway. It was just being paranoid. They’d checked the beach, there was no one hiding anywhere and this wasn’t their time or danger level.

It was a beautiful beach. It reminded her of the little house by the water on a different world in a different time. “All it needs is a little red sailboat. Do you want to go out on a boat?” Carolina shouldn’t have brought up the boat, Illinois had been York’s buddy, she just knew him from hanging out with York and being exposed to the beer drinking crew.

But going out on a smaller boat than the cruise ship did sound interesting. “And then we could see some of the ruins and historical things.”

***

York was thrilled about the weather and was happy as a clam, walking hand in hand with Carolina, feeling the warm sun against his bare skin. He'd opted to just go with his swim trunks and sneakers, his t-shirt slung casually over his shoulder for those few instances where they needed to be covered more than they currently were. Greece was beautiful, full of history and stunning views, and he almost wished they could stay longer than the three days they'd planned. It was a good test run, and they could always come back.

Her suggestion of taking a boat out surprised him, but in a good way. His entire expression lit up automatically and he barely tempered it after a moment. "We could make a day of it. Pack some food, grab some snorkel gear too?" he asked, hopeful even though he knew he was probably pushing his luck a little bit. It just sounded like the perfect way to spend a day out in Greece, just the two of them.

Being out on the water, that had been his thing with Illinois, and he really did miss his friend. He missed most of the Freelancers, if he was being honest, but there was also the fact that he'd trade all of them for Carolina and Wash. He'd trade a whole hell of a lot to be able to grow old in Madison Valley, to have the time he'd wanted to give her when he asked her to leave Freelancer. Here, it was so much better though, since they weren't on the run and didn't have to hide who and what they were.

***

She’d just sort of thrown the suggestion out there but seeing how York lit up at it Carolina couldn’t really tell him no about any of it. It wasn’t like York didn’t show how he felt but most of the time knowing her and her personality he kept it pretty low key. This, on the other hand, was such a genuine and open delight at the idea it almost made her feel uncomfortable but in a good way if that was possible.

“Fine. Picnic on a boat and if you play your cards right we can go snorkeling.” It was said with her usual dry amusement but she bumped his shoulder with hers while they walked and smiled. If he was that happy at the idea of the boat she kind of wanted to see him on it and see his reactions.

***

There was no denying that he was over the moon at the suggestion, since it was the kind of happiness that he really couldn't temper no matter all his training. He didn't do more than smile though as she bumped his shoulder, since the last thing he wanted was to make her regret agreeing to it. He'd take care of the arrangements once they got back to the hotel. There was a part of him that wanted to go all out for their trip on the off chance that things weren't going so great with Wash and this was the only one they'd get.

It wasn't very power of positive thinking, but he worried about Wash and the others. Neither one of them wanted to check in too frequently, lest Wash felt babied, but they were always going to worry about him.

"Come on," he said, as he tugged her hand and led the way towards the water. It was warm, refreshing and he wanted to get his feet wet as they walked along the beach. "I think this is the part where I'm allowed to use my bi-annual 'I love you'," York added, somewhat teasingly. It was incredibly sincere though.

***

She was managing to not check in too much with Wash only because she’d left Church behind with Tucker and Charlie. He’d send emergency messages to their phone even if they were off and Delta was probably monitoring communications the same way but in his quiet way (unlike Church who liked to give a running commentary) otherwise she would be doing more than sending pictures every once in a while. Carolina knew York was sending pictures too, she really didn’t want to know what he was capturing her doing. It was a fair bet there would be boat pictures.

She let him tug her along so they were walking in the water. The last time she’d been on a beach it had been in power armor...actually she wasn’t sure if she’d ever been by a beach that was an ocean without armor. Iris had a really big lake and she’d swam there but it wasn’t an ocean.

“You know you’ve been pretty good so I might let you up that to a quarterly I love you.”

***

The sun was going to set soon, which he might have planned it to work out that way, so York wasn't about to waste the moment when it was presented to him so perfectly. He definitely wasn't going to ruin their vacation by showing her the pictures he was sending home to Wash, even a few to the Doc since it was the least he could do for someone who took such good care of them. It was never anything Carolina wouldn't like either, though she might roll her eyes at him at worst because he absolutely did appreciate his relationship. York didn't want to do anything to jeopardize it, but he was willing to push the boundaries a little in order to keep them growing.

"Quarterly? Well then, I definitely have to make this one count," he replied. He'd never do something like ask her to marry him, since that was definitely something she was going to have to bring up, but he was absolutely going to do something slightly romantic and a little bit mushy. York let her have a few peaceful minutes walking along the beach so that the sun could set just a tiny bit more. That was when he looked over at her with a grin.

It only took a moment for him to pull her into his arms and twist a bit so that he was dipping her in that very old fashioned kind of way. "I love you, more than anything in the world," York told her with a grin that was all honest emotion. He just looked at her for a moment before he kissed her.

***

She should have known he’d been planning it. She definitely knew what he was up to when he grinned at her so she at least went with the dip gracefully and didn’t sock him in the shoulder for surprising her.

Carolina let her arms creep around his neck while she kissed him back. She trusted him to hold her up and never let her fall so she stayed relaxed in his grip. When the kiss finally broke she smiled and put her forehead against his. “I love you too. But this might have set you back to biannual.” She had that smirk that clearly said she was joking about that part.

***

It meant the world to him that she trusted him not to let her fall. Carolina didn't trust easily, didn't let her guard down to even have her back unprotected most days. That honestly meant more to him than her telling him that she loved him because of course she did if she trusted him that much. York kept her steady as their foreheads were pressed together.

"Totally worth it," he replied, because even though he knew she was joking, he was totally okay with taking her at her word, too. He righted her and laced their fingers back together. "I'll just have to top this next time if I only get the chance twice a year." There wasn't anything saying he couldn't tease her right back. York did, at least, continue on so they could walk for a little while longer. He'd always want a little while longer with her, was grateful every day that he woke up in Madison Valley.