Glory grinned and cuddled into his side.

"I didn't think you would," she said.

Léan leaned against her, involuntarily shifting his tail out from the water and wrapping it around the both of them. It was a new gesture, and one he hadn't bothered with until now.

Glory noticed the new gesture, but didn't move out of his hold. She rather liked it, actually.

Léan seemed embarrassed when he noticed what he'd done--it was a hold of love, and only mates usually did this--but he didn't pull back. He closed his eyes, relaxing with her.

Glory leaned against him, content and comfortable. Laying her head on his shoulder, she sighed happily.

((Skipping forward a bit!))

Archie had finally managed to calm Eden down from her crying. "Phew..." He returned her to Damon, then smiled pleasantly at his two other traveling companions--Clarissa and Azilis. "Hey, we're ready to set off whenever you are!"

Léan was nervous, but very happy that they were all leaving.

Azilis nodded.

"We're ready," he said. Clarissa nodded.

Glory sat on her rock, watching them all. She'd decided not to go to school that day, since she was definitely too distracted and anxious to pay attention. She rolled her eyes a bit when her mother came up next to her rock.

"Are you sure you'll be alright?" Clarissa asked.

"Yes, mom, I'll be fine," Glory replied, sighing. "I've been alright for the last few years, remember? I can take care of myself for a weekend." Nana had left the evening before to spend a three-day-weekend with Glory's aunt Cassidy.

"If you're sure..." Clarissa said doubtfully.

"I'm sure, mom," Glory said. "Go."

Archie fell in near Azilis. He was not a leader. He would let Azilis lead the way and help with directions if needed. Basically, he would be the 'beta' of the traveling group, for now.

Léan was sitting on shore, also looking anxious and a bit jumpy. His tail was swishing back and forth nonstop. He hoped they would have a good time in Hawaii, but...that was the last thing on his mind, right now.

Glory watched the group leave as she sat next to Léan.

"You," she said as she leaned over and gave him a kiss, "are too jumpy. This is the first time we've ever had the beach completely to ourselves, we should enjoy it while we can."

Léan settled himself down somewhat unwillingly, closing his eyes and returning her kiss. "I suppose so...what shall we do?" he asked, openly.

"Well, we have at least the next three days to ourselves," Glory said. "Maybe we should make the most of it."

"Maybe we should..." Léan fell silent. The change came to mind, but he was also thinking of other things they could do together, as well.

Glory noticed that he'd gone silent.

"What are you thinking about?" she asked.

"Everything we could do, above and below water...I think...perhaps, the change should be first priority, if we want to be together underwater..." Léan replied, still thinking.

"I was thinking the same thing," Glory agreed. "Once that's out of the way, we can do whatever we like."

Léan flushed a tad pink. "A few things on land will still be out of the question...but, yes...I suppose that should come first..." he admitted, seeming self-conscious again. He was much more relaxed than he usually was talking about it.

"We do have all weekend," Glory pointed out, giving him another kiss.

"We do, yes...this is true..." Léan leaned forward to meet and return her kiss. "...By the way...I believe it would be better to start the change inside. A minute is all you will have to run outside...but it should work. I, er...do not want to risk being caught, even in a semi-deserted place like this..." he added, worriedly. Not only would be be quite embarrassed...he would also be revealed...

"That's a good idea," Glory said. "But... what about you? I know I can get outside on my own in under a minute, but I doubt I'd be able to get you outside as well..."

"If you can push me onto the floor...I should be able to get out on my own, with a bit of work. Getting you in the water is the most important thing," Léan insisted, nodding.

"Are you sure?" Glory asked. "I don't want to leave you stranded inside or anything..." She was a bit apprehensive at the idea. She was kind of afraid of going through the change without him.

Léan fell silent for a moment. "...Let's see...you could try to scoop me up and run out...but you would be in pain. It is like, if I remember correctly...what did they relate it to...every nerve in your body prickling...nausea, and dizziness..."

His brow furrowed. "...We could keep the wheelchair close at hand. I could follow you out, and then roll myself out into the water..."

"I like that idea better," Glory said when he mentioned the wheelchair.

"...I think I will need some more practice with it. I need to see how quickly I can get it through the house..." Léan mused. "Do you have a stopwatch? You could time me. I would probably need to get through the house in under forty seconds, or exactly forty seconds--I would need to crawl out to the water, too."

"I might..." Glory said, taking out her phone and scrolling through her apps. She nodded when she found it. "Yeah, it works as a stopwatch."