Fic: Tunnel of Love
Tunnel of Love
Ellie/John Casey
PG [ish]
Everyone had enjoyed a great day at the Carnival. However, it took Casey's keen eye to spot Ellie standing alone on the edge of the rides whilst everyone else was eating hot dogs. He quietly and surreptitiously left Chuck, Sarah and the others and went to stand near Ellie.
“Eleanor?”
She started slightly, “You move so quietly, John...Alex?”
John smiled, “I've been John a long time, Ellie. You seem lost in thought.”
“I miss all the 'couple' things since...”
John gently touched her shoulder, “I know. Devon was a Grade A1 idiot to leave you.”
“And even before...” Ellie sighed, “It had been a long time since we did silly things together.”
John squeezed very gently, “Been even longer for me. What silly carnival ride do you miss most?”
Ellie smiled, “We've been on most of them tonight, John.”
He smiled back, “There's an old favorite we've both missed. The tunnel of love.”
Ellie blushed, her head dipping, “Well yes, but...”
John's jaw tightened and his voice was deceptively light in tone, “No worries.”
Ellie heard it, saw it, raised her head and gently cupped John's jaw with one hand, “John. It would be a pleasure to go on the ride with you.”
John's eyes flared with eagerness, “Ellie?”
There was a world in that word; surprise, pleasure, ardent affection.
Ellie responded tenderly, “John.”
Her tone matched and complemented his.
He gently cupped her chin with one hand, “Ellie, at last.”
Then he leaned in and kissed her briefly and tenderly. His free hand linked with hers and they walked hand in hand to the ride.
John paid for the tickets and helped Ellie down into the boat, “Been waiting and hoping to kiss you for a long time, sweet Ellie.”
She smiled up at him, “Me too!”
John stole another quick kiss, “More soon, sweetheart.”
“Sweetheart?”
“Yes. That's okay with you?”
“Perfect!”
Ellie leaned her head on John's shoulder and he put his arm around her. The boat began to slide into the tunnel.
John took a deep steadying breath, “This may be way too soon, but I love you.”
Ellie turned to him, sliding her hand against his cheek, “Oh, John...darling.”
John swiftly cut off further conversation by sliding in for a full kiss. In fact the kiss went on a long time. Ellie and John were totally lost in each other, in the dark. By the time they came up for air again, they were out in the open again.
John broke away regretfully, “We missed the ride.”
Ellie's radiant smile answered him, “No. We didn't!”
“Ah. How about going round again?”
She grinned eagerly, “Until they close the ride down?”
John smiled back, “I'm good for that.” He handed the carnie a bunch of dollar bills.
The carnie smiled, tipped his hat and let them carry on. It wasn't the first time a courting couple had kept on riding and it wouldn't be the last. But the glow of joy on that couples' faces; well, he hadn't seen love like that in a long time. Not since he and the Missus had ridden, over thirty years back...
Ellie/John Casey
PG [ish]
Everyone had enjoyed a great day at the Carnival. However, it took Casey's keen eye to spot Ellie standing alone on the edge of the rides whilst everyone else was eating hot dogs. He quietly and surreptitiously left Chuck, Sarah and the others and went to stand near Ellie.
“Eleanor?”
She started slightly, “You move so quietly, John...Alex?”
John smiled, “I've been John a long time, Ellie. You seem lost in thought.”
“I miss all the 'couple' things since...”
John gently touched her shoulder, “I know. Devon was a Grade A1 idiot to leave you.”
“And even before...” Ellie sighed, “It had been a long time since we did silly things together.”
John squeezed very gently, “Been even longer for me. What silly carnival ride do you miss most?”
Ellie smiled, “We've been on most of them tonight, John.”
He smiled back, “There's an old favorite we've both missed. The tunnel of love.”
Ellie blushed, her head dipping, “Well yes, but...”
John's jaw tightened and his voice was deceptively light in tone, “No worries.”
Ellie heard it, saw it, raised her head and gently cupped John's jaw with one hand, “John. It would be a pleasure to go on the ride with you.”
John's eyes flared with eagerness, “Ellie?”
There was a world in that word; surprise, pleasure, ardent affection.
Ellie responded tenderly, “John.”
Her tone matched and complemented his.
He gently cupped her chin with one hand, “Ellie, at last.”
Then he leaned in and kissed her briefly and tenderly. His free hand linked with hers and they walked hand in hand to the ride.
John paid for the tickets and helped Ellie down into the boat, “Been waiting and hoping to kiss you for a long time, sweet Ellie.”
She smiled up at him, “Me too!”
John stole another quick kiss, “More soon, sweetheart.”
“Sweetheart?”
“Yes. That's okay with you?”
“Perfect!”
Ellie leaned her head on John's shoulder and he put his arm around her. The boat began to slide into the tunnel.
John took a deep steadying breath, “This may be way too soon, but I love you.”
Ellie turned to him, sliding her hand against his cheek, “Oh, John...darling.”
John swiftly cut off further conversation by sliding in for a full kiss. In fact the kiss went on a long time. Ellie and John were totally lost in each other, in the dark. By the time they came up for air again, they were out in the open again.
John broke away regretfully, “We missed the ride.”
Ellie's radiant smile answered him, “No. We didn't!”
“Ah. How about going round again?”
She grinned eagerly, “Until they close the ride down?”
John smiled back, “I'm good for that.” He handed the carnie a bunch of dollar bills.
The carnie smiled, tipped his hat and let them carry on. It wasn't the first time a courting couple had kept on riding and it wouldn't be the last. But the glow of joy on that couples' faces; well, he hadn't seen love like that in a long time. Not since he and the Missus had ridden, over thirty years back...