Take Your Time • •

[Dylan Ellis Griffin]

Dylan hadn’t been back to Ireland since he was twenty-four and had been lucky enough to earn some vacation time just after Christmas. He didn’t expect his next trip to come this summer and he definitely hadn’t expected to have anyone outside of his family accompanying him. Things changed, plans altered and now Dylan couldn’t be happier that the seat next to him on the plane was occupied by a very pretty blonde. It would be a long flight with long layovers, and then Dylan had to sort through the rental details for the car he had pre-booked to help get them from place to place. He had no plans for their first day in the country; the lengthy flights and waiting in terminals would probably leave both of them pretty drained. They could unpack, settle in and spend their first day relaxing, maybe walking around the area. He had found them a cute little holiday cottage away from the hustle and the bustle of the cities, about an hour away from his old family home. It overlooked the water’s edge and boasted a log fire and quiet relaxation for the pair of them. He knew where most of the good places to visit were already, but he planned to grab some more tourist brochures once they had landed in Belfast International. That way, Bridget could look at and choose what she wanted to see and do. The only plan Dylan couldn’t miss out on was dropping in to see some family. They already knew he was visiting thanks to his ma and her chatterbox ways and if he ignored them, they’d kill him for sure!

He was excited and it probably showed. There was so much that he could remember and plenty of old stories that kept springing back to mind whenever he talked about one place or another. Plus, it was some time away from the stresses of city life with Bridget, and he planned on making the trip a little more romantic now that he could. He knew he was probably driving her crazy the last couple of days with how much he talked and gushed about the different places and people, as well as his constant reminder to her to pack a couple of warmer clothes since summers in Ireland were definitely not like the summers in Nevada or New York! He just hoped that Bridget would enjoy Ireland now that they were finally there and it was more than just talk or tickets in an envelope.

As the plane began its descent onto the Belfast runway, Dylan couldn’t help but feel like he was home at last. He knew he would probably never permanently return to Ireland, but it would always be the place he called home, even when he was old and grey. Once the plane came to a halt and the pilot’s voice came back over to do the final farewell speech they had heard twice already since leaving Las Vegas, Dylan gathered their carry-on bags from the overhead and then stole a quick kiss from Bridget. “Welcome to not-so-sunny Northern Ireland.”

[/color] He grinned, noticing the clouds shielding the blue skies from their sights from the time being. It wasn’t all that unusual, really, and Dylan was just thankful that finally they were done with the cramped cabins and checking of watches and terminal screens. They only had to grab their luggage from the carousel, pick up the car from the rental place connected to the airport and then they would be good to go. Breezing through all the tedious waiting and signing of paperwork, he finally tossed the keys into the air and caught them again before loading the back of the blue car up with their bags. “We’ll have t’ walk t’ the shops later or order in some take-out. See how y’ feel once we’re settled.”[/color] Already his accent was coming back thick and strong, but Dylan barely noticed it himself. The roads to the water’s edge hadn’t changed at all, so the map and the directions handed to him by the man at the car hire company were redundant. “Yer not cold are y’?” [/color] He wasn’t feeling it himself, but there would definitely be a salty chill in the air by the time they reached the cottage that overlooked the ocean.

It took about an hour from the airport to reach the stretch of road Dylan was looking for, his blue eyes finally falling on the white cottage with the sunny yellow door. Parking the car on the gravel drive, he was happy to see that the older man who rented the place out was there and waiting with the keys. Dylan had called him while they were waiting for the bags to come through, but it had gone to the machine. After a brief introduction and exchange of pleasantries, the gentleman left them to settle in, understanding how long their flight had been. Dylan grinned at Bridget, turning the key in the lock and then using his shoulder to nudge the door open. “An’ this is us for the next week.”[/color] He dropped the keys into a bowl on the side and then left the bags by the couch so he could wrap his arms around Bridget and get her reaction now that they could finally relax. “So, what do y’ think?”[/color]
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• • •

TAGGED! Bee! <3
WORDS! 979!
OUTFIT! Kiss Me, I’m Irish!
LYRICS! You Had Me From Hello - - - Bon Jovi
NOTES! <3

[Bridget Cameron Delaynee]

Even though the day was filled with plane rides and layovers, Bridget still couldn’t believe she was headed to Northern Ireland; or anywhere on her list to be honest. But this trip was just a little more exciting since she was going with Dylan. The tickets had been an incredible surprise, almost too good to be true so she felt like she had to pinch herself for it. Bridget felt like she had to pinch herself for a lot in the last week really. And the only thing that really had her worried about the trip was asking her parents to take care of Catherine and Heathcliff. She wasn’t worried about getting lost, long layovers and even longer flights; not even meeting any of Dylan’s family, which was something she knew was unavoidable. But if there was one thing Bridget didn’t have to worry about, it was her parents watching her pets. They were too excited about the whole surprise trip that they’d said yes even before they knew the duration or if they would have to drive Bridget’s SUV back to New York or rent a trailer to bring Dylan’s bike! Thankfully going back to Nevada seemed to be their plans.

Her mother seemed to have taken this trip and everything that happened to build up to it as a good sign for the young couple and future grandbabies though she wouldn’t admit to the second part. But there was a spark in her eye whenever she brought up Dylan in conversation for the rest of that week. Bridget had been quite impressed her first words after finding out about the surprise trip weren’t about grandbabies since it seemed like that was all her parents wanted! She was glad to be gone from Nevada though, even if it was for just a week. It was still an incredible thing. She had gone shopping, twice, because her mother was a freak! But at least she knew the clothes she brought with her to Belfast would be suitable and not the shorts, tees and swimwear she’d packed for the desert she was from. She had made sure to pack a light hoodie just in case what she’d worn wasn’t quite warm enough for her; which wouldn’t have been surprising with the way she sucked in heat like a vacuum. “I don’t know if I’m more excited to be here or if I’m just that happy to not be on a plane anymore in a few minutes,” She said smiling, uncurling from her seat and stretching as best she could in the cramped space. She was getting sick and tired of the cramped cabin space and recycled air.

Thankfully there wasn’t much packed between the two of them for the trip so it hadn’t taken them long to gather their things and collect the car they’d be using for the week. But while the paperwork was dealt with, Bridget took the time to do a proper stretch and work out the kinks in her neck and back because sitting for so long and just about killed her. “Walk? I don’t think I remember the meaning of that word. It sounds pleasant, though,” she teased, tugging on the side of his shirt. “Hmm, no I’m fine,” she said, shaking her head. Bridget didn’t know if she could even sit in the car while Dylan drove through familiar streets to get to wherever it was he was taking her. She was tired, exhausted even but she hadn’t been able to catch more than a couple hours of sleep on the plane rides. Bee turned in the seat to face Dylan as he maneuvered the unfamiliar streets to her. She had no idea where they were off to but neither did she particularly mind. She kept quiet as much as possible through the drive, breaking the silence here and there to ask questions about this and that. Normally, she could hardly keep her excitement contained but she could feel her energy waning and that more than anything annoyed Bridget. She had never been to Northern Ireland and the first time she’s there, she’s ready for a catnap!

Bridget’s jaw wanted to drop once her eyes spotted the adorable little cottage Dylan pulled down the drive of. It was the sweetest thing and it brought up images of being curled up inside, in front of a roaring fire, maybe a glass of wine and low music. If only she could keep her eyes open long enough later to make that come true. She stepped from the car, stretching a little before engaging in the introductions and pleasantries, taking in the sight of the pretty cabin. Bee waved the man off with a sweet smile when he said his farewells, and she turned to Dylan, finally feeling the excitement wake herself up. “Dylan, it’s gorgeous! I absolutely love it,” she said stepping in and looking around. The inside was just as lovely and Bridget really couldn’t believe this would be where they were staying for the next week. Bee reached up to wrap her arms around Dylan, smiling happily. She tilted her head to the side as if thinking about his question seriously. “I think I like how strong your accent’s gotten since we’ve stepped from the plane. And I think I absolutely love this cottage, Dylan. It’s perfect,” she said, reaching to stand on the tips of her toes to kiss Dylan. “Have I said thank you yet today?” she asked, against his lips, teasing because she knew she hadn’t stopped saying those two words since he surprised her with the tickets.

Tag || Dylan! <3
Words ||936
Clothes || Pretty Fool
Music || Mirrors --Justin Timberlake
Notes || <3

[Dylan Ellis Griffin]

Dylan’s plan had turned out more than perfect so far and he hoped it continued that way for the duration of their time in his native land. Obviously, coming to Belfast as a couple and not just as friends was a surprising and very welcome bonus, but he just thought that it made the vacation even more special for both of them. He’d never shared Northern Ireland with anyone else before and Bridget had never been there before; it seemed to be a perfect match! “I’d get the excitement about being off the plane out first.”

[/color] He grinned, taking the opportunity to brush his lips against the side of Bridget’s head before the line of people began to slowly move from the aircraft.

He let out a quiet laugh and shook his head, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief as he glanced across to look at his girlfriend. “Aye, an’ pleasant is the word you’ll be usin’ when y’ see the hills y’ve gotta walk up!”[/color] He teased, only slightly joking. Dylan didn’t think that they’d walk that far out today, but he knew one of the lovely scenic walks did boast a terrible hill that had even the most experienced people rubbing their thighs when they got to the top of it. There would be more than that, too, especially if they headed through some of the countryside and took a visit to Belfast Castle. He also planned to take her to some of the surrounding villages, just so he could see her face when some of the lifelong residents spoke. It never failed to amuse him how two tiny villages could be no more than a five minute drive away from each other and yet the accents could be quite the opposite of each other! Some were thick, rough and sounded more like sounds than words at the best of times, even to the rest of the country if they weren’t accustomed to it. Portbraddon was one such place and it just so happened to be the little seaside hamlet where their cottage was.

When he had thought of this surprise and booked the flights, Dylan only ever envisioned one of these cottages for the trip. He could have booked them into a fancy hotel in the middle of Belfast, but they spent all of their time in the city as it was and this was supposed to be a break from everything like that. Plus, he had once joked with Bridget about cabins and roaring fires and this was exactly like what he had been envisioning when he had said it. The inside was spacious enough and had all the necessities for the week ahead, even if the purpose of the cottage was to offer somewhere to sleep and maybe eat. He had a feeling they’d be out more than they’d be in, but that wasn’t a big problem; he was sure they’d still get use out of the log fire and enjoy the quiet moments before the hustle and bustle of life drew them back in. Grinning, and glad that Bridget approved of his selection, Dylan glanced around once more himself, appreciating the detail of the cottage. “Well, I know how t’ pick ‘em.”[/color] He joked, adding in a cheesy wink for good measure. Letting out a small chuckle, Dylan cleared his throat and wondered how he had missed the change in his accent. He had only heard a handful of people at the airport with his native voice and he didn’t think those brief moments of overheard conversations or simple chitchat would be enough to bring his out. “Aye, well, we knew that would happen sooner rather than later.”[/color] He said, amusement in his tone as he smiled down at the pretty blonde in his arms. Grinning against her lips, Dylan nodded his head softly. “Y’ have, but I’ve lost count of how many times.”[/color] He joked, kissing her again as soon as the words had left his lips. Sometimes he just couldn’t resist the temptation she provided and he had been unable to keep track of how many stolen kisses he had claimed since arriving in Nevada. He hadn’t tired of them yet and he didn’t think he ever would!
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• • •

TAGGED! Bee! <3
WORDS! 748!
OUTFIT! Kiss Me, I’m Irish!
LYRICS! You Had Me From Hello - - - Bon Jovi
NOTES! <3

[Bridget Cameron Delaynee]

If someone had told Bridget when she left for Nevada that she would end up with Dylan in Northern Ireland, she probably would have choked on her coffee. Wildest fantasies and reality didn’t usually overlap and yet here she was two weeks after leaving New York and she wasn’t Nevada. It was a good thing she didn’t take on summer classes or this wouldn’t be happening. She loved teaching but hated those summer classes. They were never long enough to fully impact those minds. None of that mattered at the moment, since she wasn’t teaching a summer course and she wasn’t in Nevada or New York, alone and baking to fill the empty spaces of time she would need to fill otherwise. “I really don’t think the other people would appreciate me jumping up and down like a six year old who just got the pony she’s always wanted for her birthday,” she said, laughing, reaching up to steal a kiss because she could.

Bridget was too excited to be in Belfast, where Dylan grew up to take much care in being sarcastic responding to him. She really did want to jump around and act like a child; she hadn’t been joking when she’d said that before. “That’s why I brought you along with me. Piggy back rides are all the rage these days and I can’t give myself one,” she said, grinning innocently. Thankfully for her, sarcastic responses just seemed to flow from her mouth without her brain putting in much effort anymore. Really she wouldn’t mind any walking around at all since it meant they were going somewhere to see something she hadn’t seen before. Even if it was just down the block to the nearest chip shop because as ridiculous as it was, it wasn’t a shop in New York and that at the moment was enough to excite. Dorothy really wasn’t in Kansas anymore and it was wonderful. Bridget wanted to hear all the accents, the stories. She wanted to see the sights, the castles the little hamlets and coves. She wanted to experience the city, the country, everything. She even wanted to meet Dylan’s family, which for the most part scared the life from her.

The instant Bee saw the little cottage she and Dylan would be calling home for a week, she thought of their conversation. It felt like ages ago they were talking about cabins, roaring fires and personal stories from their pasts. She loved those moments with Dylan, she could always tell him anything at all. “Oh, would you like some wine with that cheese you’ve got going there?” Bridget asked, rolling her eyes at the handsome doctor. Bridget set her handbag on the side of the couch behind her before turning her complete attention to Dylan. “I love it,” she said, grinning. Dylan’s accent always amused her and she adored it even when it was hardly noticeable but now that it was so strong, it was even more endearing. “Mm shut up,” Bridget said laughing, wrapping her arms around Dylan’s neck and pulling herself up to wrap her legs around his waist, effectively changing the angle of the kiss. She might have been acting like a hormonal teenager again but she and Dylan were finally alone with no prying eyes or ears and no interruptions. All those stolen kisses and sweet moments, Bridget wasn’t about to get bored of them or being in Dylan’s arms anytime soon.

Tag || Dylan! <3
Words ||576
Clothes || Pretty Fool
Music || Mirrors --Justin Timberlake
Notes || <3

[Dylan Ellis Griffin]

Dylan knew he had been lucky to get this time off work at such short notice. He had been fortunate that he had no complicated procedures booked and that he had been able to sway his boss into letting him go with a few handshakes and promises. Sure, he’d be scrubbing in for surgery when most people were wrapping presents, but he thought it was a worthy sacrifice considering everything that had happened so far. He was lucky he had plenty of vacation days since he only ever took the odd one or two if he needed to extend one of his driving trips to allow for travel. The rest of the time he made use of the days off he was allocated for those little adventures. He planned on making the most out of this trip though, since he didn’t know when he’d be granted the time to surprise Bridget with something like this again. Grinning down at her, Dylan flicked his eyes up to glance at the other passengers surrounding them. “They’d probably just think you’d make use of the on-board drinks a little early in the day.”

[/color] He knew most of the passengers had probably only boarded at Heathrow that morning and hadn’t spent as many hours as they had on the long haul flight from Vegas. He could see a few businessmen looking like they were flying in for the usually dull meetings with partners and clients.

Chuckling warmly, Dylan shook his head and then turned to look at Bridget with an affectionately playful twinkle in his blue eyes. “Technically, I brought you so you’d be the one givin' the piggybacks.”[/color] He grinned, combatting her usual sarcasm with the pedantic technicalities of their trip. “Besides, where’s the fun in piggybacks when it’s all part of the experience?”[/color] He added, already knowing that he’d be making Bridget partake in every little thing to make sure she got the full adventure; he wasn’t letting her get away with any shortcuts on this trip! There would not be a dull day, or even a quiet day as long as they were there. He planned on keeping her busy with the sights and the traditions until the last minute before they had to be at the airport and prepared for their long flight back to America. He probably wouldn’t be able to fit everything that Ireland had to offer into this one trip, but he planned on doing the best he could with it and letting Bridget see the things he knew he sometimes spoke of or had photos of in his apartment. He knew a few of the smiling faces in those photos would make an appearance on this trip, and he knew he’d be able to control them about as well as he had controlled his own desires in the past week. He just hoped that they would be satisfied with one afternoon visit and then leave the couple alone, or else he feared Bridget would be trying to swim her way to England or Scotland to try and escape it all!

He wrapped his arm around Bridget and held her close to his side, whispering in her ear as though there was some great secret he had to reveal. “I already have the wine. It’s in the kitchen.”[/color] When the man who rented out the cottage had asked Dylan if he would like anything brought there for the arrival, such as milk or bread, Dylan had jokingly said a bottle of wine would go down a treat. He was a little surprised when the man had e-mailed him a day later to inform him that three bottles were there ready for him! Trust the Irish to always make sure the drink was on hand. “I’m glad.”[/color] He grinned, thankful that she could at least understand him when it thickened like this. It would probably get worse as the week went on, but it was one thing to not understand the locals, entirely another if she couldn’t understand the doctor who was at her side! Grinning against her lips, Dylan only moved his hands to hold her closer and to make sure that he wouldn’t drop her. He didn’t care if they weren’t acting their age or if they had only just fallen through the door. He had been struggling to keep himself in check back in Nevada, but things were different now and there was no one else to look out for, no voices or doors to hear and leap back at. Moving his lips along her jaw, Dylan took a quick glance, remembering that he had no clue what door led to the bedroom, or any room for that matter. Moving, swearing at a step he almost tripped over, Dylan caught Bridget’s lips again and pressed her back against the wall while he reached for the first door he found. Laughing when he saw it was nothing more than a small utility room, he gave up the hunt. “Forget it.”[/color] He mumbled, his voice husky as he peppered light kisses across her skin.
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• • •

TAGGED! Bee! <3
WORDS! 890!
OUTFIT! Kiss Me, I’m Irish!
LYRICS! You Had Me From Hello - - - Bon Jovi
NOTES! <3

[Bridget Cameron Delaynee]

Bridget was lucky that she didn’t have to negotiate for vacation days. She had all the same days off as the students she taught, with the added torture of having to grade papers and assignments while they pretended to study for the exams and midterms. She had been a student not too long before them, she knew the rules of being a college student, and she was still young enough to remember what went on when they were supposed to be studying. She hadn’t by any means been one of those wild child college kids but she’d seen her fair share of the inside of frat houses. She just exchanged a couple frat parties for sitting in her home office with a stack of papers to grade and a glass of wine over a keg stand. Her spring breaks were filled with sunshine, white sand beaches and pretty turquoise water. But those spring break trips meant some long plane rides. With the group she used to hang out with and go on those trips with, it meant drinking away their flights. “I’ve been there and I’ve done that. I’m not sure what the shock and awe factor would be going into Northern Ireland, but probably as good as going south of the border back home,” Bridget said blandly.

Bee sighed, patting Dylan’s arm as though she were simply placating him. “You wouldn’t have thought up this surprise if I hadn’t put it in your head first. So, I win,” she said, smiling sweetly. “And there’s no way in hell this tiny frame could carry you anywhere, especially uphill.” She may have worked out enough at the campus gym, often taking a couple papers along to keep her busy so the time would fly by on each machine but that didn’t mean she could carry someone who had nearly a foot in height on her. “Who says getting a piggyback ride in a foreign country isn’t part of the experience, hmm?” Bridget asked, crossing her arms and looking up at Dylan with an eyebrow raised in question. She wasn’t about to miss anything she could experience in Belfast or wherever Dylan took her. She was too excited to be in Belfast, with Dylan. It was just like some whirlwind romance. A week ago they were neighbours and friends, people who shared conversations and meals and now they were on the other side of the planet, in a stunning country in the cutest little cottage.

“Someone thought ahead,” Bridget said, laughing. Leave it to Dylan to think ahead like that and have a bottle, or two waiting for them in cottage. It was a silly little thing but it made Bridget smile at the forethought. “It’ll probably drive me insane, trying to figure out what you’re saying by the time we hop on a plane again but I really love it,” she teased, lightly. They had only been in the country for a short time and already it was quite strong. She could only imagine how much thicker it would get before they boarded a plane again and went home. She only hoped that listening to the odd accents around Nevada for as long as she had gave her the ear to be able to understand him and anyone else while they were in Belfast. Whenever Bridget was around Dylan, he brought out the playful, teasing side in her. She could be herself, be playful and sexy and he didn’t turn her away. Here they were finally properly alone and they were acting like they were going to be interrupted at any minute. “Who cares? At this point, the floor would be perfect,” she said breathlessly, a husky laugh following her words. Her fingers tangled themselves into Dylan’s hair as she nipped playfully at his earlobe, kissing a path back to his lips. She was sure she hadn’t even been this bad when she was a teenager! But she couldn’t find it in her to care about the comparison.

Tag || Dylan! <3
Words ||667
Clothes || Pretty Fool
Music || Mirrors --Justin Timberlake
Notes || <3

[Dylan Ellis Griffin]

“I think it would be pretty big. We’ve only been on this flight for an hour, and most of these people are goin’ a work.”

[/color] He grinned, shaking his head at what his imagination could only cook up for Bridget’s past antics. He had caused his own chaos during his days at college, but he had been more likely to party after exams and assignments, rather than every weekend. He had needed to put in those long hours of studies to ensure that he got the absolute best grades that he could. Dylan wouldn’t tolerate himself slacking off and the nights he did swap the textbooks for nightclubs were made up for by all night study sessions during the following week. He maintained a good balance of academia and social throughout the testing years of neurological studies, and loved every minute of those memories.

Shaking his head, Dylan only continued the silly little argument they were having. “An’ it wouldn’t be in your head if it weren’t for y’ livin’ next door to a charmin’ Irishman in the first place.”[/color] He grinned, folding his arms and pressing a light kiss to the top of her head. He had to laugh at the image that popped into his head of Bridget giving him a piggyback up one of Ireland’s tough hills. It was comical, verging on something one might see in a cartoon on a Saturday morning. “How about the guy who’s from the foreign country?”[/color] He offered, quirking his eyebrow and then grinning. “Trust me, no one gives piggybacks up hills in Belfast. Y’ jus’ get told t’ move your arse.”[/color] He informed her, thinking that there were plenty of residents who would say that much more colourfully. It was all part of the charm and the sense of humour that came with those born and bred on the Isle.

Dylan knew, in the back of his mind, that they should have been doing something a little more beneficial to this trip, but he wasn’t listening to that voice of reason right now. They might have been acting terrible, hungry with desire, but he couldn’t help but think that this had been a long time coming. The chemistry between them had been mounting since the moment Bridget had moved in to the neighbouring apartment and it had only skyrocketed since their whispered confessions in Nevada. “I think I can do be’er than the floor.”[/color] He teased breathlessly, a glimmer of a grin appearing before he needed to kiss her again. Dylan moved them to the large couch and fell back, pausing only to brush Bridget’s hair from her face and take a moment to catch his breath. “Well, this is one way to deal with jetlag.”[/color] He joked, grinning like an idiot before attacking her neck with heated kisses.

SOME TIME LATER…

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After the few hours of sleep they both definitely needed, Dylan woke up on the couch with Bridget still tucked into his arms. The throw that was previously resting on one of the armchairs was draped over them and the clock told him that it was late afternoon, coming up close to tea time. He didn’t move just yet, but instead stayed where he was, running his fingers through Bridget’s blonde hair and smiling down at her. It might not have been how he had planned their arrival at the cottage, but he was far from complaining. Part of him was content to stay right where he was and not move at all, but there were still bags to unpack and a cottage to explore. After a few more minutes, he pressed a soft kiss to Bridget’s shoulder and gently shook her arm, keeping his lips close to her ear. “Hey, come on, we need t’ get some food in y’.”[/color] He pressed his lips to her cheek and then sat up, stretching out as much as he could before moving to find his phone and check for any messages. He had promised to let his ma know that they had arrived safely, but it hadn’t exactly been the first thought on his mind once he found himself alone with Bridget. Sure enough there was a message from Clara, asking where in the hell her son was and if he was alive. “You’re gettin’ me into trouble already, you are.”[/color] He grinned, tugging Bridget into his arms and stealing a quick kiss.
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• • •

TAGGED! Bee! <3
WORDS! 779!
OUTFIT! Kiss Me, I’m Irish!
LYRICS! You Had Me From Hello - - - Bon Jovi
NOTES! <3

[Bridget Cameron Delaynee]

“We’ve been on planes for a week, I swear, it would be completely understandable if I were drunk this early in the day,” Bridget said with a sigh. She really did feel like she’d been in airports and on planes for a week. She wanted a bed, maybe a bath or a hot shower and a year’s worth of rest that she knew would go away as soon as she was outside yet another airport’s walls. Fresh air would work just as well as a nap at this point. Plus, Bridget really wanted to do something with the day ahead of them. Their flight had been at a good time, so it was possible for them to still get out and do something with their first day.

Bridget leveled Dylan with her best “not impressed” glare. “That is quite a bit of bull since it's been on my list for travelling since I went to Paris with ma maman when I was little. Moving in across from you had nothing to do with it, I’m afraid,” she said, sounding as if she really were sorry about the news for him. “That doesn’t count! You haven’t lived here in quite some time. Try again,” Bridget teased. Rolling her eyes, Bridget let go of a big sigh as she ran her fingers through her probably messy hair. She hadn’t looked at it since they left the last airport and quite frankly, she was a little afraid to. “Then we’ll have to have a race,” Bridget said, perking up at the idea of kicking Dylan’s ass. She was quick, probably not fast enough to beat Dylan in a fair race but then, she was also good at distractions so she could figure something out; if they actually found the time in their busy touristy schedule to run. The attraction between the pair had been rising for too long now. Something had been bound to happen between them sooner or later. Bridget was just happy that it was finally happening. “Don’t care. Your shirt has to go,” she said just as breathlessly between the hot kisses. “So much better than the nap I was dreaming of.”

. . .

Bridget let go of a contented sigh, snuggling in closer to Dylan as she slowly rose from dreamland. She wouldn’t have minded a couple more hours there, but Dylan’s voice roused her fully from her dreams. “If we really have to,” Bridget said, sitting up and taking the blanket with her. “I really wouldn’t mind staying in the rest of the night,” she added, a mischievous twinkle in her blue eyes. Stifling a yawn, Bridget tried to work out the kinks in her back from falling asleep on the couch. “It’s nothing you can’t charm your way out of, I’m sure,” Bridget teased, when she pulled away from Dylan’s touch. Because she knew Dylan meant business about getting something to eat, she sighed as she stood up from the couch, taking the throw with her to pick up her clothes from the floor. “What did you have in mind for dinner?” she asked, sitting on the floor in front of her open luggage. She wasn’t about to wear the same clothes she had on during their flights out again that day.

Tag || Dylan! <3
Words ||546
Clothes || Pretty Fool
Music || Mirrors --Justin Timberlake
Notes || <3

[Dylan Ellis Griffin]

Dylan probably could have closed his eyes and drifted back off to sleep quite easily. He was still feeling pretty beat, but sleeping on the couch would only leave them both with kinks and aches. Plus, it seemed rather ridiculous when there was a king size bed somewhere in the cottage! He only moved because he felt like they should and not because he wanted to. Laying there with Bridget tucked up next to him was just perfect. “We really have to. Or else we’ll need a chiropractor in the mornin’.”

[/color] He joked, dropping a kiss to her shoulder as a smile crossed his lips. Wrapping his arms around her from behind, a grin took over as the mischievous glimmer danced in his eyes. “We can come straight back here. I’m sure we’ll both want t’ jus’ crawl into bed again.”[/color] He whispered, stealing a teasing kiss before untangling himself from Bridget and the throw.

Grabbing his clothes from the floor, he left the shirt on the table it had landed on and buttoned up his jeans quickly before glancing back at his phone. “Aye, but only after I hear me ma tell me all about how worried she’s been that we went down in fiery flames, or somethin’ as equally ridiculous.”[/color] He could practically hear Clara screeching at him already, and he had even pressed the button to call her yet! Dylan got it over and done with while Bridget was sitting in front of her luggage. The conversation went exactly as he suspected it would and he only rolled his eyes and repeated his instructions to calm down. Finally, he made up an excuse about terrible phone reception and a misplaced charger and Clara seemed to buy it, still grumbling about the stresses her children put her through. Once he finally hung up he copied the professor’s move and found himself a clean shirt out of his own bag of luggage. A shower would probably be a good idea, too, but he only had the intention of taking Bridget out to grab a quick dinner and then coming straight back to the cottage for the rest of the evening.

“If me memory serves correctly, there’s a chippy not five minutes from here, jus’ down by the harbour there.”[/color] They were in a tiny hamlet, so everything was within walking distance. They’d have to drive to the next little town or into the heart of Belfast if they wanted to get a real grocery shop for the week ahead, but the little local stores should have enough to see them through until morning. Dylan had often come out this way with his dad when he was a boy and then with his cousins the last few times he had visited his home. It was a great spot for fishing and rock pooling and with a great coastal path. Slipping the clean shirt over his head, Dylan took this opportunity to check out the cottage while Bridget changed. He found the bedroom with the bathroom joined onto it and the other little storage rooms. They had a few pieces of garden furniture and beach necessities, such as a brightly striped windbreak and two deckchairs. Making his way back to where he had left Bridget, he grinned at her and leaned against one of the rustic beams. “So, the bathtub is big enough for two to swim in, an’ we have bottles of wine. What do y’ say we go, eat an’ then come and make the most of that?”[/color] He asked, raising an eyebrow and giving her that flirtatious smile he had been wearing almost every time they had been together for the past week.
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• • •

TAGGED! Bee! <3
WORDS! 657!
OUTFIT! Kiss Me, I’m Irish!
LYRICS! You Had Me From Hello - - - Bon Jovi
NOTES! <3

[Bridget Cameron Delaynee]

If it hadn’t been for the small fact that they’d fallen onto the couch, Bridget could have easily stayed there and slept longer. But couches were just too uncomfortable, even curled up next to a gorgeous man. “Nothing a back rub couldn’t fix,” Bee said, wiggling her brows suggestively. Bridget turned her head as best she could to look at Dylan. “Again? We kind of have to find the bed first,” she teased, leaning into the kiss. She could do to continue that little nap they shared but she knew her stomach and Dylan wouldn’t let her do that. One was already suggesting food and the other would start protesting the lack of sustenance soon enough. But once they ate and found the bedroom, Bridget couldn’t say that she would mind staying there the rest of the night.

“Just a small flair of the dramatics then,” Bee said, grinning at the conversation she was imagining. And by the sounds of the one-sided conversation she could hear, her imagination wasn’t far off. With an idea of their plans in mind, Bridget pulled out the top jeans and tee in her luggage and set to putting her clean clothes on. With that done, she dug her phone from her bag and sent her mother a quick text to tell her they had arrived in Ireland, everything was good and she would send another text later. She wasn’t about to keep up a huge text conversation with her mother about the plans for this trip and the questions that were none of her business her mother was bound to ask. She shoved her phone back into purse and forgot about it as soon as it was out of sight.

“A chippy? Oh I am going to love being here,” Bridget laughed, teasing the Irishman she was with. She hadn’t seen much of where they were staying during the drive but what she had seen, she adored. It would be fun to take a walk through the area and see where everything was, the little shops and the view of the water from the harbour. Ireland was quickly becoming one of her favourite destinations. She was closing up her luggage again when Dylan came back into the main room. She stood, stretching her arms in the air, her shirt lifting, showing just an inch of skin. She walked over to Dylan, reaching up and linking her arms around his shoulders. “Sounds absolutely perfect,” she said, stealing a kiss. Bridget almost didn’t want to leave the cottage but her stomach was starting to protest so with another stolen kiss, Bridget turned and grabbed her bag from the floor. As she turned back around, she ran her fingers through her messy hair, not having the slightest clue where she’d put her hairbrush amongst her things. “Ready when you are,” she said, finger combing her hair one last time.

Tag || Dylan! <3
Words ||482
Clothes || Pretty Fool
Music || Mirrors --Justin Timberlake
Notes || <3

[Dylan Ellis Griffin]

Dylan was almost positive that the two of them could’ve slept through most of the day. It would have only worked against their plans though, and the couch was hardly the place for the two of them to curl up and fall into a deep sleep. At least they knew it was a comfy couch now! “Please, I know you an’ you’ll be hintin’ at one anyway.”

[/color] He stated, wearing a lopsided smirk as he raised his eyebrow. Laughing, he nodded his head, realising that Bridget had a point. “Aye, but once we find it that’ll be it! I can tell y’ now it’ll be a struggle to leave it.”[/color] A wicked grin took over and he couldn’t help but to wiggle his eyebrows suggestively. People might think them terrible, but they were young and on vacation; why couldn’t they let go and act on those impulses and forget about the stresses of the city lives they led?

“I don’t think me ma knows the meanin’ of the word ‘small’.”[/color] Dylan said, rolling his eyes. Most of his family were the same and Bridget would soon find that out for herself during their little trip. He had warned her already about his crazy relatives, but he had a feeling that he could continue warning her until he was blue in the face and she still wouldn’t be prepared for the antics that his aunt, uncle and cousins were used to. He was just thankful that they were only going to visit one household and not the others that were scattered across the country! A few of them were away on their own travels and others would be working and lived too far out to make an evening drive of it. In the end, it had worked in their favour, since he didn’t exactly want Bridget hitchhiking to the airport after being cornered by Griffins of all ages!

He grinned, unable to help himself, and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, holding her close. “Mmhm. Y’ could have a fish supper. Or a pastie bap!”[/color] He suggested, moving around to grab the keys to the cottage and push his feet back into the shoes he had arrived in. “An then there’re scallops, an’ I’m pickin’ up some egg soda for breakfast in the mornin’.”[/color] His stomach let out a low grumble at all the food he was imagining and Dylan truly felt like he was home again. It was little things like this he missed about Belfast and being back there now had him feeling like a little kid on Christmas Eve.

Outside the sea air woke him up that little bit more and once the cottage was locked up he wrapped his arm around Bridget’s waist to hold her close and then followed the narrow path down the gently sloping road. It was a lovely walk down towards the bay and soon enough they found the row of small shops that Dylan remembered well. With the exception of an old charity shop being replaced with a newsagent, nothing had changed. The chippy was on the corner, next to the closed bakery and only two teenagers were inside ordering a bag of chips for their tea. Dylan gestured to the large, lit up board on the wall behind the counter and squeezed Bridget’s side. “What takes y’ fancy? Or do y’ feel a wee bit dazzled?”[/color] He grinned, waiting for her to answer. He already knew what he wanted, had decided before they had even left the cottage, but he knew it could be hard to pick something from a menu and the hot counter before them only held a few sausages and then everything else was already covered in crispy batter that had his stomach growling again.
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• • •

TAGGED! Bee! <3
WORDS! 755!
OUTFIT! Kiss Me, I’m Irish!
LYRICS! You Had Me From Hello - - - Bon Jovi
NOTES! <3

[Bridget Cameron Delaynee]

“Hinting is such a," Bridget paused, moving her hands in a circular motion as if trying to search out the best adjective with them, "Polite word for it and I'm already expecting one,” she teased, finally settling on a word she liked for it. As nice as that couch was, Bridget had no intention of using it to sleep on again. And once they found themselves in that bedroom, she had no intentions of leaving it until morning. “We wouldn’t have to worry about that if you hadn’t planned every waking second out for us,” Bridget teased, grinning. She didn’t mind in the least though, she was seeing Ireland and happy to spent most of her waking moments sightseeing and being sociable.

Bridget shook her head laughing. “No mother does,” she said, trying to quiet the laughter. “They don’t know the meaning of the word boundaries either.” At least her mother didn’t and the last week was proof of that. She didn’t know how many times she had to cut her mother off from saying more than she should have in the past week. Their relationship was still new and the last thing her mother needed to be questioning them on their future together. Hell, she wanted answers to questions they hadn’t even talked about yet! After they’d left them at the airport, Bridget was just relieved that they had managed to get through the week without either of her parents asking about grandchildren or wedding dates! Bridget only hoped that it wouldn’t be at quite the same level when she met Dylan’s family; which if she believed him about his family, it would be just as bad, if not worse simply because there were more of them.

“That sounds well, it sounds a little disgusting to be honest but we’ll see,” Bridget teased. She was of the mind that she would try nearly anything once. So, as long as it didn’t have meat in, she would try any food. Since she didn’t quite know what she was getting herself into Bridget was basically putting her life, or at least her meals, in Dylan’s hands. She put her shoes back on, not sure where she had packed the other pairs she’d brought along with her. She knew when they decided to go out in the morning, she would have to unpack all her luggage to find something small she’ll want to wear; it was always the case.

The salty ocean air helped to wake Bridget up more than she was. That little catnap of theirs took away quite a bit of the jetlag she had been feeling getting off that final plane. She couldn’t sleep on planes or in airports so she hadn’t slept since they’d left Nevada. She was laughing and joking with Dylan though by the time they turned onto the row of shops they had been moving towards. Inside the chip shop, Bridget looked up at the menu board and it just blurred. “My brain is fried, just surprise me,” she said rubbing the back of her hands over her eyes and thinking she should have taken the time to dig out her glasses before they’d left the cottage. Her eyes weren’t usually bad, in fact she could usually go without the help of them but she had been up for too long and her eyes were drained now.

Tag || Dylan! <3
Words ||562
Clothes || Pretty Fool
Music || Mirrors --Justin Timberlake
Notes || <3

[Dylan Ellis Griffin]

Chuckling, Dylan rolled his eyes and shook his head slightly. “More like hintin’ is far too subtle for you.”

[/color] He commented with his usual cheeky smirk. Slinking his arms around Bridget’s waist from behind, he planted a feathery kiss to her shoulder. “Luckily for you, I give an excellent backrub.”[/color] He grinned, his chin against her shoulder for just a moment. Laughing and moving away, Dylan tossed the leaflets at her, from where he had dropped them on one of the side tables, and grinned. “I have probably planned every wakin’ moment of one day. And that’s only because it’s the day we’re visitin’ the Griffin brood and they’ll come to us if we don’t. I don’t exactly want them comin’ here when I want y’ all t’ meself.”[/color] He elaborated with a flirty smile and wink accompanying the end of his words. The week hadn’t originally been planned as a romantic getaway, but after the change in their relationship in Nevada, Dylan couldn’t help himself from wanting to make a romantic evening or two out of the trip.

Nodding his head in agreement, he only had one comment to add to that statement. “No one with the Griffin name understands the concepts of boundaries. Believe me, I have horror stories of the conversations I have either sat through or listened in on.”[/color] It seemed like every relative wanted a chance to repeat some already awkward conversation, but in their own manner. Dylan was certain they actually had some kind of game to see as to who could embarrass the person the most. It had been a few years since he’d had to hear anything like that from anyone but Clara, but he had a feeling that would soon change. Knowing his ma, she had probably already made a series of phone calls about Dylan and Bee coming to Belfast and would be waiting by the phone for one of the relatives to return the call after their family visit was stricken off the list. He knew it would be killing Clara to wait this long to properly meet Bridget as more than just her son’s neighbour. Part of him thought it a suitable punishment for all of the other embarrassing stunts she had tried to pull over the years with repeated comments of grandchildren and wedding hats.

“Eat some of it every day for the rest of your life and you’re likely to put yourself in hospital.”[/color] He grinned. It wasn’t always the healthiest meal, but it was the food he had grown up with and the dishes that would get the family through a Friday evening of excited children and tired parents with everyone looking forward to the weekend. “It’s delicious though; even the questionable lookin’ stuff.”[/color] He promised, not about to feed her something disgusting just for the hell of it. There were plenty of other dishes they could try that would all be what Dylan grew up on and what his ma still cooked, but tonight was a chippy tea and it was going to be so worth it.

Looking around the old familiar hamlet, Dylan was a little surprised that very few things had changed. Most of the small villages were closing up and becoming picturesque reminders of days gone by. This one looked to be hanging in there and he felt glad about that. Grinning down at Bridget, Dylan brushed his lips across the top of her head and then stepped to the counter, drumming his fingers on the surface before speaking to the man with an accent even thicker than Dylan’s. “Aye, I’ll have a pastie bap, open portion of scallops, fish supper an’….throw us in some gravy and mushy peas, would you, mate?”[/color] He kept up a fast paced conversation with the man while he prepared the meals, scooping and packaging everything up, wrapping it all in sheets of newspaper from the day before. Bagging everything except for the open cone of scallops, Dylan handed over the money and then thanked him, nudging Bridget playfully while balancing the plastic bag of food on his wrist and holding out the newspaper cone of scallops. “Fritters, really, but different chippys use different names.”[/color] He explained, examining one of the battered slices of potato before tossing it into his mouth. “Hey, when I was a kid, comin’ t’ a row of shops like this came with guards. An’ they had t’ give y’ permission t’ enter before y’ could go in.”[/color] He reminisced, moving back in the direction of their cosy cottage.
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• • •

TAGGED! Bee! <3
WORDS! 803!
OUTFIT! Kiss Me, I’m Irish!
LYRICS! You Had Me From Hello - - - Bon Jovi
NOTES! <3

[Bridget Cameron Delaynee]

“There is that,” Bridget said, laughing happily. Subtlety had been a dream never reached in Bridget’s eyes; not that she tried particularly hard to reach that goal. She was far too happy to stay as blunt as she was. Bridget crossed her hands over her stomach and Dylan’s arms, automatically moving her head to the side to try and look at him. “I’m holding you to that when we get back,” Bridget said, giving Dylan a quick peck on the nose before he straightened up again. “Hey!” Bridget called out, raising her hands to try and deflect or catch at least one of the leaflets tossed her way. “So we get one, maybe two days of sightseeing. Who really needs to see such a beautiful country anyway?” Bridget suggested with a brow raised to her hairline. She was teasing, there was no way after making the fuss that she had that Dylan was going to let her come all the way to Ireland and let her stay curled up in bed for the week, even if it was with him.

“Are you going to be one of them someday, with your own children or nieces and nephews? Or are you already one of those people with your siblings?” Bridget asked, teasing. She understood though, her family didn’t seem to comprehend the definition of too many words. Her own parents and aunts and uncles, grandparents had all had something to say. Her aunts and uncles were easy to ignore while one set of grandparents seemed to find some of the topics more awkward that Bridget did herself. The other grandparents were French, and they all seemed to think there was nothing off limits; especially as she’d gotten older. She knew if Vivie had a way of getting Clara’s number, the pair would already been on the phone and making plans their children weren’t ready to talk about yet. Thankfully, they hadn’t given her mother or her father any useful information to find Clara with. At least, Bridget hoped so. “I bet,” she said with her brow raised. If it was all fried, it was only a matter of time before a clogged artery made an appearance. “I trust you won’t purposefully give me food poisoning,” she teased, rolling her eyes lightly.

Bridget couldn’t help but grin at the speed Dylan was talking. If anyone had taken much interest in them, she would appear as though she simply met Dylan on her travels and not at all like she’d flown there with him! It amused her but she also realised just how much out of her depth she really was; and how Dylan must have felt listening to her and her parents ramble on so quickly when he first showed up at her parents’ door. She looked up at Dylan with a glare that held no heat and stuck her tongue out at him before reaching for the door. Bridget picked one of the scallops up examining it suspiciously though she hardly needed to before popping it in her mouth. “Mm, food,” Bridget said, leaning to Dylan’s side for a second and stealing another away from the cone. “What? Really?” Bridget asked, looking up at him and trying to gauge if that was a memory or if he was just trying to get a rise from her.

Tag || Dylan! <3
Words ||555
Clothes || Pretty Fool
Music || Mirrors --Justin Timberlake
Notes || <3

[Dylan Ellis Griffin]

Dylan had spent his entire life around women who were blunt and to the point more often than they were subtle. Thinking back on his memories in this moment, even when Clara was trying to be subtle she still made a terrible job of it with eyebrow raises or intonations in her voice. “There will be plenty o’ time for you t’ get your fix o’ me once the sun goes down, I promise.”

[/color] He grinned boyishly, flicking the edge of whatever leaflet was still in his hand. “The rest o’ the time I’ll be makin’ sure that you see enough t’ tell Vivie about. You know she’ll ask otherwise.”[/color] He grinned, his imagination already conjuring some comical scene with the French woman trying to pry information out of them about this little surprise trip.

Laughing, Dylan shook his head. “I’m one of the better ones! I only have t’ cross that line when a situation calls for it…or I’m interrogatin’ someone Georgina brought home.”[/color] He had only been able to do that once or twice, given that his sister didn’t often date a guy who she deemed worthy of meeting the rest of her family. Most of the time Dylan had to listen to her complaining about the sleazy guys on her college course, or the bad date she had been on the week before that definitely wouldn’t be turning into a second. He’d probably have the chance to ask more questions and try to catch out more once Kyla and Lily reached the age when dating and high school romances became a thing. Grinning, Dylan combed his fingers though his hair to smooth it out again. “I don’t recall anyone gettin’ food poisonin’ from good old Irish food. It’s hearty stuff, alright, but it’s not deadly.”[/color] He joked, his stomach letting out a quiet rumble at the thought of all the old dishes he missed or only had a chance to enjoy if he had the time to spend an afternoon and evening with his mother.

Aside from the chance of the food chilling on the walk back, there was no real need to rush to the cottage and Dylan was quite enjoying the stroll and the scallop snacks that kept his rumbling stomach at bay for the time being. Nodding his head, he swallowed the potato in his mouth and then looked at Bridget. “Aye. Believe it or not, when I was a kid, this country was in the middle of a thirty year long war with itself over whether we should stay part o' the United Kingdom. I was born closer to the end of it, mind, but it was still a common thing to be frisked in the streets to make sure you weren’t carrying anything.”[/color] He explained, pausing to eat another of the crispy scallops. “You’ll see a lot of murals on the side of buildin's when we head into Belfast City. They’re all reminders of The Troubles, as they came t' be known.”[/color] His ma and dad remembered darker times than Dylan could, but he still had clear memories of those days, but they rarely came to the front of his mind now. He explained a little more about the history on the way back to the cottage, keeping the tale brief, but informative. Once back there, he routed about to find some cutlery and dishes, quickly serving up the meal for the pair of them to enjoy.
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• • •

TAGGED! Bee! <3
WORDS! 618!
OUTFIT! Kiss Me, I’m Irish!
LYRICS! You Had Me From Hello - - - Bon Jovi
NOTES! <3