“I thought your brother and mother were going to come on this picnic with us,” Damian said with a slight frown. He heaved easily along with the wooden basket in his arms. He followed his prancing Caitlynn, raising an eyebrow when she turned a cartwheel.

“They were, but Cadence finally found himself a girlfriend, so he's over at Brandy's house. And my mom was called into work today,” Caitlynn explained. “I'm glad though,” she added and stretched her arms up towards the clouds, “it seems like we haven't hung out, just the two of us, in forever... Sometimes, I think you're trying to avoid alone time with me...”

“Of course not,” Damian scoffed. His feet carried him quickly to cover the couple feet between him and Caitlynn. The basket's weight shifted to his left arm, and he pulled her into his side with his now free right hand. “Don't be ridiculous,” he murmured against her cheek.

Caitlynn flushed. “I know, sorry,” she said and coiled her arms around his torso. Her head cushioned against his shoulder as they walked. He could have led her off a cliff, and she wouldn't care, as long as he was holding her close like this.

“Now, where do you want to set up at?”

“How about over there?” Caitlynn asked and pointed across the small town playground.

“That's perfect!”

Caitlynn beamed up at him and raced forward, pulling from his grasp. Instead, she latched onto his hand and tugged him along behind. Giggles erupted as she tripped once on a pine cone, barely missing a skinned knee thanks to Damian's superhuman strength.

“Careful,” Damian warned, “I don't want to take you back home damaged and have to face Cadence. He's annoying enough without him thinking I abuse you.”

Caitlynn gave a very unladylike snort and rolled her eyes in a true teenage fashion. “Cadence isn't going to blow up at you for a skinned knee,” she said and tangled her fingers with the ones on Damian's hand. She stood up on the tip top of her toes and kissed him, “But thanks for the worry... It's nice to know you care,” she added  with a lopsided grin.

“Of course I care, silly girl.”

“Ha ha, I love you too, Damian,” Caitlynn giggled and pecked her lips to his one more time. “Now, let's start our picnic, shall we?” She led him to what she felt was the perfect spot. It was under an old tree that they settled, right in the shade. A dark blue blanket was spread out over the green grass, the basket settled atop that.

Damian sat himself on the blanket, watching as Caitlynn unpacked apples, a bowl of grapes, turkey sandwiches, ham sandwiches, carrots, watermelon slices, and a big bottle of lemonade, along with two cups, plates and napkins. It looked delicious.

“Here you go,” Caitlynn chirped and thrust a cup of lemonade into Damian's hands. She poured herself a glass and then settled beside her boyfriend, curling up against his side. “Feed me?” she asked cutely.

“Aren't you old enough to feed yourself?” Damian asked absently, even as he sat down his glass and picked up a turkey sandwich, holding it to Caitlynn's mouth. He grinned and took a bite of the sandwich before holding it back to her lips. “Good?” he asked.

“Mhm,” Caitlynn hummed, “very good.. thanks. Want some grapes?” she asked.

The grapes hung juicy and yummy-looking in her hands, hovering just in front of Damian's face. He grabbed one with his teeth and carefully pulled it from the stem. He did it again. Once more, twice more.

“You seem to be enjoying yourself,” Damian noted and trailed his fingertips down through her brunette hair.

“You could say that,” Caitlynn smiled, “the only thing that would make this even more perfect is if... Ah, never mind.” She looked wistfully to the sky, perfectly content to stay here in his arms all evening and even onto forever.

“If what?”

“Well.. If I could sit in your lap while we swing?”

Damian relaxed visibly. “Now, that,” he said, “ I think we can do.”

Caitlynn grinned up at him. “Let's finish lunch then,” she exclaimed and took a bit of Damian's sandwich. “You still have to feed me,” she added with a fake scowl when he seemed like he would stop.

“Yes, ma'am,” he chuckled. He drew his arms tighter around her and pressed a tender kiss to her forehead. “Here, take a bite of watermelon, it smells like it's going to be very good.”

Caitlynn did as told, and she made a humming noise to share how delicious the watermelon really was. “That is really good... You should try it.”

Damian rolled his eyes and bowed his head. “You're such a messy eater,” he murmured into her face. Deftly, his tongue flicked out and lapped up the watermelon juice from where it had somehow gotten on the corner of her dimples.

“But you still love me,” Caitlynn crooned.

“Of course I do.”

“And I love you.”