Special

A faint grin shows on Dylan's lips at Ashlee's excitement. In a strange sort of way, it was fun just watching her have fun. He wasn't really used to being around somebody like her. Even though she was younger, he kind of liked being able to just... be a kid. 

"Alright..." Setting up and hitting his own ball, it goes bouncing around and winds up even further away from the hole than Ashlee's ball had. 

Quirking one eyebrow, he throws her a smirk. "I better stop teaching you, or you're gonna wind up beating me."

Eric wouldn't soon forget Stacy's words. They were serious... heartfelt... deep words. They felt too serious for two people just having discovered five minutes ago that they'd like to be more than friends. And yet her words also felt right. There was something different here. Something unexplainable. Her words confirmed that while they could easily take a casual approach to dating, there was still an underlying understanding between them that could only be seen and felt by them. They shared common ground within their wounded hearts. And somehow, somewhere along the way, they'd formed a closer bond than they'd realized... until now.

Even after a few late-night strolls, heart-to-heart conversations and time gazing at the stars, Eric wouldn't have guessed that he and Stacy would have ended up like this tonight. But he was glad. He was more than glad. He was... happy. And it was a real happiness he hadn't experienced for a very long time. 

He chuckles and keeps his arm around Stacy as they walk. "No, I think they knew better than to stick around." Going past the windmill, he spots Dylan and Ashlee working on the next hole. "Oh there they are." 

Stopping still a ways away, he cocks his head and smiles. "Looks like they're having fun. Any stranger would think Dylan was being a stick in the mud, but this is the most I've ever seen him relax. I think I even spotted a smile or two and that's really saying something." 

"Um..." Zach thinks for a moment then nods. "Yes... yes, I'd say wear something nice. I'll figure out where we're going, but after all, if you're gonna make me do things right for your first date, then I will, so it will definitely have to be somewhere nice." 

Smiling, he stands and offers Beth a hand up too. It was a couple blocks back to their cars. "In the meantime... I hope you have a good weekend and... I'll call you about the day and time and for your address so I can pick you up." 

Jared gives Grace a little smile. "Yeah... I had fun too... thanks." 

He felt kind of tired all of a sudden, and a bit lost after those harsh memories. But it was time for him to sit here alone again for a while. 

"Guess I'll see you tomorrow?" 

Carson nods, knowing that he and Katie need not say more. It was strange in a way. After such a past, they should be enemies. But instead, they were friends. And though they didn't interact very much... there was just something a little special there that Carson kept tucked away in a corner of his heart. 

"Thanks, Katie. Take it easy, ay?" 

He nods as she leaves before looking back over his paperwork and sighing. Only then does he realize an incorrect number he'd written when Katie had come in and rattled off random figures. He grins and shakes his head before erasing the mistake.

Natural

As Dylan stands behind her and helps her position herself Ashlee could feel a little color come to her cheeks. Having a crush on Dylan made Ashlee not mind to much on top of being thankful for the help. It was almost like a dream though to have him with his arms around her even though it was innocent Ashlee couldn't help but feel her heart beat a little faster.

   "So just picture where its going to go, how its going to hit, and than shoot?"

Standing and just letting Dylan guide her Ashlee watches, lines everything up and just lets his hand guide her own. As the ball shoots down the green and bounces and zig zags she gives a little laugh. It didn't make it in first short but it was much better than she had planned.

   "Hey Hey look at that, at least I got it through on the first shot."

Ashlee can't help but laugh as she looks at Dylan with a silly face. Maybe if they took a little more time he'd be able to help her more before the adults came back. She was proud of herself with Dylan's help making that shot.

   "Ok, now its your turn."

Looking up at Eric's still and watching the lights dance in his eyes something about this whole thing seemed magic and right. There was something different here than when she had been married the first time, there was feelings much deeper than she had felt with Rich.

   "Keep being yourself, keep your arms open, and never hide anything from me, be respectful to my daughter though I don't think you will have a problem with that one, and you wont ever have to worry about failing."

Stacy new any relationship starting out or one that had gone one for years would have its faults. There would be problems and misunderstanding but it was being able to get over them that was important. Sticking together, having open communication and being there when they would fall was important. Also putting God first in there relationship was one of the most important things. 

Than there would be Ashlee and making sure she was ok with it, making sure there was understanding there and that everything would be alright. Though that part Stacy wasn't worried about. Ashlee had already grown attachen to Eric, and Eric her so there was no worrys about them getting along.

   "I guess we should find the kids...something tells me they didn't wait around to long for us."

Just letting Eric's arm rest around her Stacy slips her one free arm around his wast as they move forward. A smile seemed to be painted on her face as this just seemed natural. It had been a long time Stacy walked with anyone like this. But it felt...right!

Expectations

"Right. We can keep score. Besides, they won't know anyway." Dylan sticks out his tongue a little before moving on to the next hole. 

Scanning all the little blocks that were set up before the hole, he nods. "See on this one, the ball is gonna have to bounce through all those and zig-zag. Otherwise it would take ten putts just to get to the hole." 

He moves Ashlee up first and sets his club aside. Coming up behind her, he reaches around to hold the putter with her. "Okay so you have to hit the block at an angle and imagine the line where it will bounce and go to next."

Eric wasn't sure that later he would be able to describe what he felt right now. It was happy. Warm. Terrifying. Safe. Comforting. Dangerous. Hopeful. He had determined not that long ago that he would not risk his heart again after Dana. After she had taken advantage, fooled him completely and torn him in two. His love had blinded him. Was he blind now too? 

Staring into Stacy's eyes, he hoped beyond hope that what he saw was true. That it wasn't his imagination. That he wasn't falling into this blindly. They had had many quiet talks. Heart-to-heart conversations. He had come to respect her. Appreciate her. Surely it was not fake. 

Her final comment hits him down deep in his heart. Stacy adored her daughter like no other. To have her compare him to that... his heart yearned to leap at this chance. He'd felt so alone. So unwanted. So out of place and in the way. Was he truly of value to her? Was he really that special that she would honor him with a chance like this? They were far from anything serious, but even he could sense there was something more here than a casual invitation to date. It was deeper than that. How or why, he didn't know. But it was there. And he would be a fool to let it slip by.

Eric's eyes glisten in the colored lights around the golf course. Not caring where they were, he pulls Stacy into a strong hug, wrapping his arms around her in a warm embrace. The feeling of her in his arms... just felt.... right. 

Kissing the top of her head, he pulls back and gives her a sheepish little grin. "You're an amazing woman, Stacy. I just hope I can live up to your expectations." Deeper, more serious words were on the tip of his tongue, but he holds back. This whole thing might just be in the heat of the moment and she might feel differently tomorrow or the next day. No, though his heart felt as if it would beat out of his chest, he had to play it safe. 

Glancing around the course, he takes a step back but leaves one arm slung around Stacy's shoulders. "I suppose we should move on before we're accused of making a scene," he teases.