Before Sunrise...(Open to 1F)

[Sensual_Goddess]

"I probably embellished a little, and I'm sure memories intermingle with those early morning moments," she said when he mentioned the word vivid.
She didn't want to share that her dreams had been muted and grey for most of this trip, and for some months before, really. Maybe one day she would have the opportunity to tell him the truth about that. He had touched on the subject of bad dreams, but he covered quickly with his comment about really good ones. Grace wondered for a moment about what he might consider a really good dream. She detected an undertone of playfulness in the laugh that followed his confession, and while she knew all men held fantasies, she couldn't see him as the sort who fantasized much about nameless, faceless gratification. Wishful thinking, maybe, but that was her impression.

"The kolaches here will be almost as good as my grandma's, and much better than mine," she smiled. "Besides, I don't want to waste my time here cooking. I want to spend it getting to know you."

They reached the entrance to the inn and Grace reluctantly let Liam's hand go. She walked up to the desk to check in.

"Wir möchten uns zu unserem Zimmer anmelden. Mein Name ist Grace Lambert."

The desk clerk smiled at her and checked the reservations book. She flipped the pages a few times, then looked at Grace and shook her head.

"Keiner durch diesen Namen wird verzeichnet." No one listed by that name.

Grace blushed. "Try Karl Wagner."

Liam already knew she had not intended to travel alone. Sharing the name of her traveling companion wasn't really a big deal. Except it made Grace angry all over again just to say his name. No way was she going to let thoughts of Karl haunt the remaining hours she had to spend here. His shadow was not going to prevent her from enjoying this time in this beautiful place. He is so not worth it, she thought to herself.

The desk clerk smiled and handed the key to Liam. "Danke, Herr Wagner." Grace started to correct her, then decided it didn't matter.

"I hope you don't mind staying under a that name. Sometimes it's just easier to let those things slide," she said as she pointed in the direction of their room.

She also hoped he meant it when he said he liked rustic. The room was small but cozy. The bed took up the majority of the space, with a small bureau and desk against the wall. The bathroom wasn't much more than a small closet, with a shower stall that had an east facing window at eye level. Grace tossed her bag on the chair at the bureau and sat down on the bed. She wanted a shower and something to eat. The train had left her feeling dusty and worn, and the croissant for breakfast hadn't really satisfied her.

"Do you want to shower first, or find something to eat?" Grace asked as she reclined back on the pile of pillows on the bed. She was lying there, thinking she was in control, when a ray of sun caught her eye. She started to cry. She tried to play it off as being from the sun in her eyes, but there were too many tears to hide under that lie for long.

"I'm sorry, I think I'm just tired and hungry," she said as she reached for her bag, hoping to find a tissue. "Do you mind if I shower first?" she asked, trying to keep the sobs under control. Damn him! she thought to herself.

 

[EndHits]

There was obvious confusion at the front desk of the hotel, but Liam wasn't fluent enough in German to really understand what was going on. Karl Wagner. He must've been the one Grace had been running from. Liam didn't understand how anyone could be anything less than enraptured by this woman. She was a specimen of all the finest qualities that humanity had to offer - at least in his eyes. Liam was sure that he could even learn to love her flaws.

As the desk attendant sorted through the mess of documents, Liam leaned over to whisper into Grace's ear. "I'm going to go call the airline. I'll be back in a minute."

It didn't take long to rearrange his flight plans - only a minute or two. He simply lied to the airline and told them that his train was running late into the station and that he would have to transfer to the next day. He would have 48-hours with Grace, but by sunrise on Wednesday, he would be gone. The thought troubled him, but he returned to Grace's side, nodding an affirmative.

He didn't think much of the attendant referring to him as Herr Wagner. Liam was merely happy to have a place to stay, but as he accompanied Grace to their room, he could tell something was truly bothering her.

The room was exactly what he had expected, small, quaint, and rustic. Romance emanated from this hotel. It was old and had a history as vivid as any of the ancient civilizations that were scattered across Europe. He had just begun to ponder whether or not he'd rather shower or grab a late breakfast, when he looked down onto the soft bed to see Grace with tears in her eyes. He feared the worst. Maybe this was all too much for her. Maybe she would ask him to leave. And Liam wouldn't have minded - after all the entire situation was incredibly surreal. Maybe they had gone in further than they should have.

Liam sat on the edge of the bed, placing a hand on her shoulder to comfort her. "Of course you can shower first," he smiled weakly. He wasn't sure what to make of this, but he hated to see a woman cry. Especially one who had come to mean so much as Grace. "Is something wrong? Are we moving to fast? Because if you'd like I could find a room somewhere else. I don't want you to think...that we have to do this. What I can do to help you, Grace?"

He looked into her eyes as tear ran down her cheeks. With his left hand, he wiped them off of her face, stroking her cheek. He didn't know how to console her.

 

[Sensual_Goddess]

Grace bit the inside of her lip until she thought she tasted blood. There, that turned off the water works. She wanted nothing more than to spend a few days here, with Liam, in this beautiful city. His charm had won her over almost completely. There was no way she was going to allow Karl to intrude on this time. He was the loser here, not her. She grasped the hand Liam was using to wipe away her tears. That simple gesture of tenderness almost had the her tears started up again. Damn it! why does he have to be so perfect? she thought. She wanted to put her arms around his neck and sob, get all of the tears out now and be done with it. But that so wasn't fair to this sweet man who seemed genuinely concerned. No, this was going to be two perfect days.

"I'm just travel weary, that's all," she told him. "A shower and some lunch will fix me right up, promise."

She was reluctant to move off the bed. Sitting beside him, holding his hand to her face, felt so comforting.

"And no, Liam, nothing is moving too fast. I invited you to stay, remember?" she smiled up at him, hoping that sounded as light as she intended. "You being here is exactly what I need."

Her bag was within reach from the bed, so instead of standing to gather her things, she pulled it into her lap so she could sit there on the bed and lean on Liam for a few more moments. His shoulder was just the perfect height for her to rest her head against while she rifled through her things, looking for the stuff she needed for her shower. She always carried a bag of shampoo and soap, as these amenities were not always available at the more tucked away inns. It was worth the inconvenience, though. The cozy feel of the room had already had a partial effect on her emotions, albeit a little more sad than she had anticipated. But Liam's presence was going to chase away the blues. As was the festival they were going to attend. The music may be bluesy, but her company sure wasn't.

When she had what she needed she zipped her bag closed and tossed it back on the chair. She wrapped her arms around Liam's neck and gave him a hug. Him sitting beside her made the gesture a little awkward, but she didn't care. She buried her face in his chest and took a deep breath, willing the last bit of sadness out of her body. Then she pulled away, looked up and gave him a kiss on his cheek, letting her lips linger so close to his for just a moment.

"I won't be long, I promise, then the shower is all yours," she said. Then she stood and walked to the tiny bathroom, completely forgetting to grab a towel from the bureau in the room.

 

[EndHits]

Liam knew when he was being deceived, but he didn't want to say anything. He had only known this woman for a few hours, even if it felt like a lifetime. He had replaced someone - someone very dear to her. Someone who was supposed to sharing this room with her: Karl Wagner. Liam didn't even know the man, but he wanted to strangle him for hurting a woman as beautiful as Grace. Liam's mind drifted back to his own situation, but only momentarily. He tried to hide the sullenness from his face.

As Grace reached up to embrace him, he had never felt so warm in his entire life. His racing thoughts subsided and he simply enjoyed her touch. There was real caring in this embrace, real appreciation. As she pulled away, Liam could barely keep himself from pulling her back in. He wanted to kiss her, to feel her lips on his own. Her head on his chest felt perfect, like they built for each other. She was a perfect fit.

The kiss on the cheek was enough for the moment, though. She stood up and moved towards the shower. The room was quiet, only the sound of the water pouring into the tiny bathroom could be heard. Liam opened his backpack, pulling out his notebook and stretching out onto the luxurious bed. He stared out the window for a moment, the sunshine washing over him. How could he be any happier?

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a pen, placing it onto the paper of his notebook. Liam began to sketch his first memory of the day - Grace sitting across from him in the train. He focused on her gorgeous face at first, the curl of hair sliding down her profile. Then, he moved down, replicating her clothing, her curves, her legs, and the inquisitive look on her face. When he was finished, he placed it under her pillow and continued to stare out the window.

 

[Sensual_Goddess]

The tiny shower was comforting; the walls were close, the sun shone in sun through the window, the water was warm. If she had asked Liam to share, there would be barely enough room for them both without being in constant contact. As much as she wold love to feel him against her, she knew she had to get her self together before she even considered asking for that. She didn't want a shower with him to be based on sympathy.

As the water ran down her body she closed her eyes and imagined all of her sadness following the water down the drain. All of her tears disappearing into the foamy bubbles and soap. Liam standing behind her, his hands on her neck, running down her back, pulling her closer when they got to her hips, replacing his hands on her neck with his lips. She sighed, then took a deep breath. When she exhaled, she felt a little better. A few more deep breaths while she imagined Liam's hands on her and she was smiling to herself. She could almost hear him singing again;

"Slow down you're moving to fast,
With your head strung out on all your maybes
Low down, your moment has passed,
Hang around while it just seems too crazy
All you've got is what you have
Salted lines to keep them fed
Always there, but nothing's changed
Even your lies remain the same..."

She didn't realize she was humming along to his voice in her head until she got to the line about lies. Did someone lie to Liam before they met up? There was definitely some darkness hiding behind his smile. She was starting to feel guilty about not sharing her whole story. She supposed he had a right to know. It wasn't so much that she felt like hiding any truths from him, she just didn't want him feeling sorry for her. When he smiled, when he touched her, she wanted it to be because that was what he wanted to do, not what he felt compelled to do.

The body wash she carried with her was light and smelled faintly of lavender. She rubbed a handful over her skin and breathed deeply. The aroma was soothing and cleansing at the same time. All of the weariness from the last few days evaporated in the steam and she let it go. She turned off the hot water first, so she could get an invigorating push to get moving. The cold was startling but not uncomfortable. It made her skin tingle, her nipples harden, and her toes curl. She turned off the water and reached for a towel, then realized she had forgotten to grab one from the bureau. The tiny bathroom had no closets or towel racks. She would either have to ask Liam to get one for her, or try to nonchalantly walk into the room naked. Either way, it would appear not so subtle.

"Let me apologize to you for all the tears with this," she thought while she stood in the shower, starting to shiver a little from the cold blast she had subjected herself to moments before.

Well, she was going to have to do something. She decided the least provocative move would be to ask him to bring her a towel. She could stay in the shower until he handed it to her, only her silhouette would be visible through the opaque shower curtain.

"Um, Liam? May I ask a favor?" she called through the thin door, and waited.

 

[EndHits]

Liam rolled off the bed as soon as Grace called his name. It didn't take long for him to notice the stack of thick, white bathroom towels resting on the dresser. He laughed audibly, "I suppose you need a towel."

He stood up and walked towards the stack, grabbing a warm towel from the top and moving towards the bathroom. "I promise I'll be a gentleman. I won't look," Liam said as he opened the thin door with his back to the shower. Even if I'd love to see, he thought to himself. If she was as beautiful naked as she was with clothes on, he knew he may never want to leave the hotel room. He would much rather spend time exploring Grace than exploring Vienna.

Walking backwards, Liam could feel the steam from the hot shower encompass him. The small corner mirror hanging above the sink was fogged-up, even though the shower was now off. "You just wanted to get me in the shower with you, didn't you?" he said playfully. "Well I'm just not that kind of girl, Grace." He offered the towel to her, awkwardly stretching his arm backwards through the shower curtain.

His voice became sincere, "I hope the shower helped to clear your mind a bit. I don't know why you were so upset earlier and you don't have to tell me the whole story, but...I'm a really good listener. I listen better than I do anything else. So if there's anything bothering you, my ears are open."

 

[Sensual_Goddess]

Her heart thumped a little faster when she heard him open the door. Liam's promise to be a gentleman made her smile. He had been the most perfect gentleman since they had locked eyes on the train that morning. She hadn't even considered he would be anything less when she needed him. Not that she would have minded if he had told her to wait a minute, then extended his arm into the shower stall, maybe accidentally brushing her warm wet skin. Then she would take his hand and pull him in to join her in the close confines of the stall shower, drop the towel to the floor when she put her arms around his neck and pulled him close to her. Maybe later, she thought to herself, after they had spent just a little more time together. She didn't want to come across as someone looking for a quick romp. She wanted to spend a little time getting to know him better before things got that far. But she would be lying if she said she didn't want things to go there.

She laughed out loud at his comment about not being that kind of girl. Good! She thought, I don't want that kind of girl...but before she could say anything his voice dropped the flirtiness and became quiet, almost to the point Grace had to ask him to repeat himself.

"I think we both have things we could tell one another, but right now, Liam, I want to just enjoy your company," she said when he finished. "If, when our time is up, we still want to keep in touch, I'll tell you everything, just as I promised before. Or maybe later, after you've had your shower and something to eat," she added. I smell the kolaches in the kitchen and I'm dying to hear what you think of them."

Grace stepped out of the shower, wrapped in the big warm towel Liam had handed her. She smiled up at him and stood on her toes to kiss him gently on the lips.

"Thanks, for everything," she smiled. "Now hurry and get ready, we don't have much time."

 

[EndHits]

The gentle kiss was light but romantic and in any other circumstance Liam would have pulled her closer to him and pressed his lips hard into hers until their forty-eight hours together had come to an end. But he cherished the brief moment regardless. Her voice was as wonderful as any kiss she could have given him, calm and centered - nothing like earlier. "I'm sure there will plenty to talk about and all of it will be incredibly interesting." He smiled, grabbing the next towel in the stack and entering the small bathroom.

Once inside, he closed the door behind him and stripped out of his clothes. He piled them on top of the sink, fearful of getting them wet. They were really the only clean set of clothes that remained in his possession and he hadn't been to a laundry mat in nearly a week-and-a-half.

The warm water of the shower poured down over his broad shoulders, soothing his sore back. He rubbed a small, travel bar of soap into his skin and he could practically feel it cleaning the dirt from his body. Just before hopping on the train, he had volunteered to help at a small winery in Tuscany. The experience had been life-changing, but had left him incredibly dirty and aching. It was ancient Italian knowledge that he hoped would benefit him in the future.

His shower was short but sweet and as he turned off the water, Liam sighed in relief. All of the anxiety that been running through his mind was gone. He was ready to enjoy the day.

Liam stood at the mirror, lathering his face with shaving cream. He took the sharp blade from his small bag of amenities and gently scraped it along his face, clearing off a weeks' worth of whiskers. On the last scrape, he nicked his cheek, a tiny bit of blood trailing down his face. He winced in pain, wrapping a towel around his waist and exiting the bathroom.

"I'm completely embarrassed," he said, looking at the beautiful woman stretched out on the bed. "Do you happen to have a bandage of some kind? This is what I get for trying to impress you with my jawline." He laughed to himself.

 

[Sensual_Goddess]

The bed looked so soft and inviting, and Grace could hear the uneven cadence of the water as the streams fell around Liam in the shower. She figured she would have a few minutes to lie down and enjoy the quiet. She climbed up on the bed, dragging her bag with her so she could grab her clothes if he heard him finishing up in the bathroom.

The journal she had started keeping again was tucked into the bottom pocket of her back pack, along with a few eversharp pencils. She preferred the soft grey of pencil lead to any ink color. The sound of the pencil scratching softly on the paper as she wrote reminded Grace of her Kindergarten days and reminded her of some of her happiest times. She leaned back on her pillow and heard the soft crinkle of paper. Not her notebook; it wasn't even opened yet. She reached under the pillow and found a piece of paper, with a sketch of a girl looking out a train window. It took her a few moments to realize it was a picture of her. How in the world did this get here? she thought for a few minutes. Liam hadn't mentioned he drew. Obviously, though, he did. Either that, or someone had placed this under her pillow before they arrived. She was betting on the former, though. Even if he hadn't mentioned it, Grace wasn't surprised to find he was an artist. He had captured her mood so completely in the monotone sketch it was more precise than any photo she had ever seen. He caught her emotions in a few lines around her eyes. Smile lines to the untrained eye, emotion lines to the more than casual observer. There was nothing casual in Liam's portrait of her.

Grace was wrapped up in the sketch when she heard Liam turn off the water. She put the portrait down and dug quickly in her bag for something to put on. One clean t-shirt, a few pairs of underwear, and socks were all she had clean. Her jeans were going to have to last another day, at least. Fortunately, she was a neat traveler and her clothes didn't suffer much from the wear. She dressed quickly then stretched out on the bed, stomach down, and pulled out her journal again, writing Liam's name and the date.

I met someone I hope will be in my life for a long time. A good long time. I think he might be able to keep the clouds chased away. The sun in my face. The music in my heart.

Then she heard the bathroom door open, and quickly tucked the journal under her pillow. A habit from her days with Karl, who never understood her desire to document her life. Just live for today, yesterday and tomorrow don't matter, he had told her. Well, she was not going to let that person drive any of her heart now, or ever again. She would write whatever she damned well pleased. She thought maybe Liam might be a big part of what she wrote in the near future. At least in the next few days.

Grace turned to see him standing in the light, towel around him and a sheepish smile on his face. The blond scruff of the morning had been replaced by smooth skin, except for a trickle of blood on one of his cheeks. She pulled her bag to her and tucked away her notebook before digging for the small first aid kit she always carried. When she found what she was looking for she scooted over and patted the side of the bed.

"I'm not a nurse, but I think I can manage that," she smiled.

She opened the antiseptic and dabbed it on gently, knowing it would sting. Then he applied the small bandage and kissed over it softly.

"There, I think that should do it," she said.

"And, oh, by the way, you didn't tell me you drew. You did draw this, right?" she asked as she pulled the sketch from under the pillow.

 

[EndHits]

Liam had rarely felt so taken care of. As Grace dabbed at the small wound on his cheek, applying antiseptic and a bandage, he was enraptured by how she tended to his injury with empathy - even if it was a bit ridiculous. There was something comforting about her touch and he had the feeling that he would let her remove a bullet from his chest without protest. With each new layer that peeled away to reveal more of her personality, Liam became more invested. This wasn't a one night stand, not to him, and he was sure he would treat the next two days with the romantic reverence they deserved.

He stretched the muscles of cheek, pulling his jaw down far enough to be sure that the bandage would hold. Holding the towel up with his left hand, a cool breeze from the open window blew at the cloth. Liam could feel the air against his bare ass, but quickly grabbed at the fabric to keep it from unraveling. It was a close call.

Grace hadn't seen the small mishap as she turned to grab his drawing from underneath the pillow. Liam was relieved. He already felt like an awkward mess. She turned, presenting the sketch. "I wouldn't call myself a professional artist, but I like to draw what I see. A photograph is the interpretation of technology; pixels, celluloid, oil. Sketches help me remember my own interpretation of events. Important events." He smiled softly. "Like today."

Liam stared at her for a moment before returning to the bathroom. Once inside he dropped the towel, pulling on his black boxer-briefs, followed by a pair of worn jeans with frayed legs. He slid a white undershirt over his chest, a bit of chest hair peaking out of the top, finishing up the ensemble with a buttoned-black shirt with a pocket over each pectoral. Looking in the mirror, he addressed himself, smiling with mild confidence.

He opened the door. "Breakfast?" he asked.

 

[Sensual_Goddess]

Important events. Like today.
So, they both had recorded their initial impressions in their medium of choice. But he had shared his. Grace was touched, well, beyond touched. She looked at the sketch in her hands. When she looked up again he was gone. Her heart skipped a beat at the thought of spending the next two days with him. She was still sitting on the bed holding the sketch when he walked out of the bathroom. He looked like a seasoned traveler, nonchalant to the casual observer, but Grace knew better. And she was certain she would know even more by the time their trip was through. She was feeling optimistic about returning to the states for the first time since faced with the prospect.

When he appeared at the door again, this time dressed and with a carefree smile, Grace stood and put the sketch on the bureau. She wanted to ask him more about his drawings, but that could wait until breakfast. The aroma of fresh baked kolaches and brats was starting to permeate the room, and her stomach was starting to protest the time since the croissant on the train.

Grace grabbed the smaller satchel from her backpack and threw the bigger bag inside the closet. She turned to Liam and asked if he thought he would want to return to the room before they headed out to explore a bit of the city. She didn't want to lose any daylight; there was a beautiful park not far from the inn, and Grace thought Liam might find more inspiration for his sketches there. She knew she would find more words for her journal, regardless of where they roamed today. Her muse would be by her side the whole while.

The tiny kitchen was bustling with travelers and staff, tables being cleared as quickly as they emptied. The warmth, aroma, and friendly chatter was a perfect background to sit in and enjoy the company of her new favorite traveling companion. Not that many were vying for the position, of course. But she knew it wouldn't have mattered if there had been a crowd seeking her company. She had the one person she wanted all to herself for now.

When they were seated at a small table in the corner, she reached across the table for his hands and cupped them in hers.

"I can't tell you how glad I am that you came along. I promise to be the best tour guide you've ever had," she smiled a quick, smile and squeezed his hands.