R & R Pt2

Posted on Mon Jun 8th, 2026 @ 2:38am by Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Remal Kajun

2,230 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Character Development
Location: Fiji

Rhenora sighed as Remal's hands worked wonders on the tired muscles of her feet, easing the aches and knots that had been there for so long she had simply logged them as 'normal'. Had it been that long since they had 5 minutes to breathe in between chaos?

She closed her eyes for a moment, letting the relaxation wash over her, the wine, the rhythm of the waves, the soft lighting, Remal's hands as they worked her muscles. Somewhere along the line, his hands turned from masseuse to something more playful, dancing circles and exploring further.

"I think a relocation is required," Rhenora mumbled as she cracked an eyelid and saw the expression on her husband's face.

Remal's hands paused only long enough for amusement to brighten his expression. "Hmm," he murmured thoughtfully, leaning forward to press a gentle kiss against her cheek. "Is the couch no longer comfortable enough?" Another kiss found the corner of her jaw. "I thought it was performing admirably."

His hand slid lightly along her calf while he considered the matter with exaggerated seriousness. "Perhaps a change of venue is required." A kiss brushed her temple. "What about that enormous tub with the sonic jets?" Another landed against her forehead. "Would that better suit your..." He paused just long enough to build anticipation before pressing one final kiss against her nose ridges. "...majesty?"

"Don't care" She managed between breaths "So long as no-one walks in on us and we can fall asleep afterwards"

He rose from the couch and offered her his hand with theatrical formality. "Come along then. Fiji clearly invested a great deal of effort into convincing us to relax." His eyes sparkled with quiet humor. "It would be rude not to cooperate."

She tugged him towards the bedroom, fatigue warring with desire. There would be time for sleep later, but first there were other things on her mind.

They collapsed on the king sized bed in a tangle of limbs and kisses, hands seeking to remove the layers between them.

The world beyond the villa seemed to drift away, carried out with the tide and the whisper of palm leaves beyond the open windows. Beneath tangled sheets and moonlit shadows, they rediscovered something that had been waiting patiently beneath duty rosters, crises, and long nights spent carrying the weight of other people's burdens. The urgency that had first drawn them together softened into familiarity, into trust, into the quiet certainty that comes from knowing another person completely.

Remal's hands moved with the confidence of years shared rather than years counted. He knew the small things, all of her tell spots. The places where tension gathered after a difficult week. The touch that could coax a smile from her when words failed, and despite being tired he was dedicated to exploring each and every one.

The subtle language that belonged only to them. Every kiss, every brush of fingertips, felt less like exploration and more like remembering, as though they were finding their way back to one another after being separated by the demands of the universe.

Time lost its shape somewhere in the warmth of the room, and beads of sweat. The waves rolled endlessly against the shore beyond their balcony while moonlight painted silver across the sheets. When at last the intensity gave way to contentment, they remained wrapped together in comfortable silence, listening to each other's breathing and the distant ocean. For the first time in a very long while, there was nowhere they needed to be, nothing demanding their attention. There was only this moment, this room, and the peace of being exactly where they belonged.

Rhenora snuggled against Remal's bare chest, her ear resting over his heart and listening to the steady thump-thump as it beat. It was the most comforting sound in the universe for her, and one she hoped would continue throughout the rest of her days. Patina stirred in the next room, and they both froze, holding their breaths for a moment until the little one settled again.

"I forget she's next door sometimes," Rhenora giggled softly once all was quiet in the next room again.

A soft chuckle rumbled through Remal's chest beneath her ear, the sound carrying more affection than amusement. "I never do," he admitted quietly. "I think part of me is always listening for her."

His arm tightened slightly around her shoulders as they both waited another moment, confirming the crisis had passed and their daughter had surrendered once more to sleep. "Though," he added with a grin she could hear in his voice, "she has developed an impressive talent for reminding us that she exists at exactly the most inconvenient moments."

The waves rolled softly against the shore outside while his fingers drifted lazily through her hair, and his mouth continued to nuzzle her exposed ear. "Tonight, however, I think we've won."

" Mhmm, I think you're right" She replied sleepily, comfortable and safe in this paradise they had chosen for their holiday. Tomorrow promised sunshine, warm breeze and as much or as little as they felt like doing. Rhenora had booked for the week, with the option of extending if they felt like it. Even know she could feel the months of tension ever so slowly leaving her body.

"Would you like to explore in the morning? I read the beach goes on for kilometres" She continued, eyelids fighting the battle to stay open.

His eyes remained closed as a faint smile touched his face. His breathing began to slow, sleep already creeping in around the edges. "I would love to explore you all day long," he murmured sleepily. "If you'll let me."

A heartbeat later, the next sound she heard was a soft snore.

She laughed softly, secure in his embrace and let sleep claim her.

Within minutes, sleep claimed them both, leaving tomorrow's adventures for the morning sun.

---

"Ma! Fa!" The sound of scampering toddler steps as their bundle.of energy awoke with the sun and came bounding into their bedroom. "Up!"

"Down" Rhenora grumbled and buried herself under the covers, dragging Patina in between then in a vain effort to get the child to go back to sleep.

Half an hour of trying to sleep with a wriggling toddler who made a drunk octopus looking for it's car keys look sedate, they gave up on sleep. Tossing back the light covers, Rhenora opened the blinds and let the warm tropical sun beam in.

"Oi, before you go outside..." she gave Patina a sunblock booster to protect her young skin, then added one for herself and Remal. As soom as Patina was free she took off out the timber door and down towards the splashpool, still clad in her pyjamas.

Remal had every intention of waking before everyone else. That intention lasted right up until the moment his head touched the pillow.

Somewhere between the ocean air, good food, wine, and actually relaxing for the first time in months, even Patina's early morning acrobatics had failed to wake him properly. By the time he finally stirred, sunlight was already spilling through the open villa and the unmistakable sounds of a very energetic toddler echoed from outside.

He stretched slowly and rose from the bed, following the sounds until he found Rhenora standing near the doorway, watching Patina wage war against the splash pool in her pajamas.

Without a word, he stepped behind her and slipped his arms around her waist. His chin settled lightly against her shoulder while he took in the sight before them. Patina was already splashing happily through the shallow water, entirely convinced that sunrise had been scheduled specifically for her benefit.

A soft kiss brushed against the side of Rhenora's neck. "Good morning," he murmured, his voice rough with sleep and contentment. Another kiss followed before he rested comfortably against her, enjoying the rare luxury of having nowhere urgent to be. "I think she has enough energy for all three of us."

"I think you may be right, I feel like I could sleep for a month and she'd up at dawn" Rhenora replied through a yawn that decided to make itself known at the inopportune time.

His arms tightened slightly around her as Patina announced something very important to a floating toy. Then he sighed dramatically.

"As much as I'd love to stand here and admire my family all morning, I believe coffee has become a medical necessity." His lips curved into a faint smile. "Can I bring you some while our little island explorer conquers Fiji?"

"That would be amazing" She replied, realising she was clad only in a robe and simply not caring. She wouldn't be the first sleep deprived parent watching a toddler wearing only a robe. Besides, what happens on shore leave, stays on shore leave.

She found a deck chair warmed by the morning sun, complete with a rolled towel on the foot of it placed there by one of the staff before the sun rose. A dozen of the same lined the splash pool, elegantly arranged to be near enough for conversation but not close enough to be uncomfortable.

Patina continued to thrash and crash around the knee high water, sending it flying in all directions. Perhaps if she kept up this level of energy a morning nap may be required.

The smell of coffee wafted through Rhenora's sleepy senses, and a plate of fruit seemed to appear from nowhere, dropped off by one of the staff.

Remal appeared a few minutes later carrying two proper mugs rather than the resort's decorative cups, one held carefully in each hand. The aroma reached her before he did; rich, dark coffee balanced exactly the way she liked it. He offered hers with a small flourish before settling into the neighboring chair.

"Just as you like it, strong," he said, sounding far too pleased with himself.

A moment later, he stole a slice of pineapple from the fruit platter and took a thoughtful bite. His eyebrows lifted almost immediately. "Stars..." Another bite followed. "I don't think I've ever had fruit this fresh. I suspect they picked this from a tree twenty minutes ago and somehow charged us for the privilege."

The sound of axe of coconut rang out nearby, as though to emphasise th comment. "See, they're harvesting thr coconuts for morning tea already" she smirked, picking up a fresh slice of the white fruit from the plate and allowing the flavour to wash over her. "That seriously is something special"

He sampled a piece of mango next, then glanced out toward Patina, who was now conducting what appeared to be a very aggressive negotiation with the water itself. A fond smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"So," he said, settling back into his chair with coffee in hand, "what's the plan today? Do we explore this endless beach as you promised me, or do we spend the morning watching our daughter conquer the island one puddle at a time?" His gaze followed Patina's latest splash.

"Right now, I think I couldn't be more content if I tried. The sun, you and Patina, quiet waves begging for snorkeling this side of the reef...." she let the words drift off and took a sip of coffee.

"More importantly, if we do decide to wander off and explore, what exactly do we do with our tiny fighter?" He tilted his head toward the resort beyond. "I seem to recall something about child-minding services. Judging by her energy levels, we may need to warn them first." He lowered his voice conspiratorially. "Possibly provide casualty estimates." He belly chuckled at his own words.

"I did read they have child-minding services, and there is an adults club high on the mountain should we have the energy to venture that far. I believe 5 pm is happy hour with cocktails." She looked at him with a devilish expression. "Or we could find a secluded beach, or bedroom."

Remal followed her gaze toward the ocean, then toward the distant mountains rising above the island before finally looking back at her. The expression she wore was impossible to miss. His smile deepened around the rim of his coffee mug. "You know," he said thoughtfully, "one of those options involves hiking up a mountain, one involves searching for a beach, and one involves not moving very much at all."

He took another sip of coffee as though weighing the matter with great seriousness. "Given that our daughter appears fully committed to exhausting herself before noon, my professional assessment is that we spend the morning exactly where we are." His eyes drifted toward Patina, who had somehow escalated her war against the splash pool. "Then perhaps a walk along the beach. Maybe some snorkeling if the reef is calling your name."

His gaze returned to her, warm and amused. "After that, if our tiny fighter accepts a temporary transfer to the child-minding service, I believe we should continue our dedication to rest and relaxation." He reached over and brushed a thumb lightly against her hand. "Whether that happens on a secluded beach or in a comfortable bedroom, I suspect I can adapt."

A faint chuckle escaped him. "Though if Fiji is teaching me anything, it's that we're under no obligation to decide immediately. We have an entire week to do absolutely nothing in a variety of beautiful locations."


TBC

 

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