Green with Envy (for splendid_roman)

[first_in_time]

It was one of the weekends John stayed with a friend, and his parents had the house to themselves for doing more or less whatever they liked without having to stop to answer questions or ask John to take his bath and get ready for bed. Of course they loved John and missed him terribly when he went away for the weekend, but it was nice to just have

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[splendid_roman]

Ian stirred when she came upstairs, but was quite happy to take advantage of John's absence to sleep. No matter how nice a day it was.

[first_in_time]

Once she was dressed, Barbara leaned over Ian to kiss his forehead. she'd caught him stirring once or twice while she dressed. "I've left the breakfast things out for you, and I'll be outside if you need me."

[splendid_roman]

"Mmm," he said, which was about as eloquent as he was going to be. He'd get up eventually, just in his own time.

[first_in_time]

A small smile lit her features as she turned and left their bedroom to sit in the sun with a bowl of cereal and a cup of tea. Once she'd finished her breakfast and Ian still hadn't come down, she got her book and took it outside to read. Soon, Barbara lost all concept of time as she became immersed in her story.

[splendid_roman]

Ian did get up, when having a lie in lost its appeal. Since he wasn't about to go outside in his pyjamas, he ate his breakfast inside, although he looked outside thoughtfully. When he had got dressed he joined Barbara outside, sneaking up to her to say "Boo!" in her ear.

[first_in_time]

It wasn't so much the 'boo' that scared her, it was the unexpected nature of the 'boo'. Barbara jumped with a high-pitched shriek and, upon discovering that it was only Ian, beat his shoulder with the cover of her book.

"IAN!! That wasn't. Funny!" she said between beatings, despite grinning along with the joke. She did try to pout at him but it didn't exactly work.

[splendid_roman]

"It was," he protested, laughing as he tried to grab the book off her so she wouldn't be hitting him with it any more.

[first_in_time]

One final smack of the book cover against his shoulder and Barbara sat back down on the seat. Her long legs stretched out so that there was nowhere for him to sit, unless he sat on her feet.

"Have you had breakfast?" she asked as her hands folded over her book.

[splendid_roman]

"Yes," he said, as he sat on the floor and rested against her legs. "It's a nice day, we should go out somewhere," he suggested.

[first_in_time]

"I was going to suggest that you mow the lawn or tend the gardens," she grinned down at him. "Did you have somewhere specific in mind?"

[splendid_roman]

He made a face. "Somewhere John wouldn't enjoy." They might as well make the most of him not being here.

[first_in_time]

"The library? Or um, the cricket?" admittedly, Barbara didn't particularly like the cricket either, but she went anyway because she could sit in the sun next to Ian and read or sleep. Anything, really.

[splendid_roman]

"It's Sunday, the library won't be open," he pointed out. Plus it was inside and it was too nice to be inside. "And John likes the cricket." For about ten minutes, then he got bored. Ian lasted longer, but then he always had beer to keep him going. "How about Kew Gardens?"

[first_in_time]

"Alright, but only if you kiss me," she tried her best not to grin at Ian as she sank a little further into the chair.

[splendid_roman]

"I don't know if I can manage that," he said, trying not to grin himself. "I'd have to move."

[first_in_time]

"Then I'll move." Leaving her book upon the chair, Barbara got down into the ground and leaned forward to kiss him square on the lips. Her balance was wobbly, and she tried not to fall forward as her arms wrapped around his shoulders.