Fin used the leftover stew to make a meat pie. Once it was prepared, she put it in the fridge to bake later and then went into the lounge and flicked through the comics. She noticed Cody's guitar in the corner and lifted it from its case. The singers at Snakes Bar had awed her. She wondered if Cody could play and sing. The strings twanged when she plucked them. Fin grinned at the sound and then saw Cody in her peripheral vision. "Can you play this?"

"Yeah. I can," he said.

"Will you play it for me?"

"Maybe later. I want to take Max to the creek before the rain starts heavy again. Are you coming?"

She nodded and put the guitar on the bed. "Are you going to swim?"

"I'll see how fast it's running." Cody grabbed a couple of towels and wrapped them around his neck.

Though the sky was thick with clouds the rain had stopped. The path was wet and slippery. Leaves dripped water onto the ground. Cody held a branch high for Fin to walk under. As she ducked, he shook it so water rained on her.

"Cody!" she squealed thrusting her chest forward to draw her back away from the droplets. He laughed so she slapped him on the arm.

"Hey. What did I say about hitting me?" Cody grabbed her wrist. "I'm gonna slap your arse." His grin died when he saw a flash of fear cross her face. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I was kidding."

Fin pulled out of his hold, ran forward grabbed a branch laden with wet leaves and flicked it at him. She grinned. "If you slap me, I'll scratch your eyes out."

"That's it, you've had it, woman."

Fin screeched and bolted along the path with Cody and Max thundering after her. She hid behind a tree and veered this way and that. Cody reached around the trunk to grab her. Max barked and spun in circles.

"I'm going to throw you in the creek when I catch you."

"No! Don't you dare, Cody! I told you I can't swim," Fin shrieked.

"Well stop running and face your punishment."

"No!" Fin laughed as she dodged from one tree to the next. "You're not allowed to hit me. Friends don't hit. I told you that."

"Yeah... well... you hit me!"

"Because you wet me."

Cody laughed. "What? You're scared of a little bit of water."

"It was cold."

"It'll be colder in the creek," he said with a big grin.

"No. Cody! You can't do that!" Fin squealed as he lunged at her and caught her arm.

"Got you!" He pulled her towards him and slung her over his shoulder.

She squealed and beat her fists on his back.

"Fin," Cody huffed. "If you keep hitting me, I'm going to smack your butt. I already told you I would." He chuckled as he headed towards the creek.

She screamed when he got closer to the water and then wrapped her arms around his neck. "No, Cody please don't," she begged with a big smile.

Cody stepped into the water with more screaming from Fin.

"You'll get the towels wet."

"No excuses, Fin." Cody lifted her to take the weight off his neck. He slipped the towels from around his shoulders and threw them onto the damp ground. "No wet towels now, we're going in."

"Please don't, Cody." Fin clung to him, wrapped her legs around his waist and gave him puppy dog eyes. "I can't swim and I don't want to get wet. It's cold."

"Are you going to hit me again?" Cody knew he should let her go the feel of her against him was a force to resist.

"No, Cody. I promise." Her blue eyes glistened with laughter

He sighed and said, "How will I punish you if you do?"

"I'll... I'll do anything you say but please don't put me in the water."

"I don't think you'll do anything I say, Fin." Cody laughed. "If you're cheeky again I'll roll you in the mud. Okay."

"Okay." Fin giggled. "I won't be cheeky again. I promise."

He lowered her and gave her butt a light tap. "That's just a warning."

Her feet tipped the cold water. She clung to him and tucked her legs up again. "You have to put me on the bank. It's cold."

"Fin, you're a coward," he scoffed. "Scared of getting your feet wet. Maybe I will throw you in." Cody put his hands on her waist in the pretence that he would.

She screamed and dug her nails into his shoulders.

"Hey, that hurts!" Cody bucked and dropped his shoulder.

"Well don't throw me in," she said pinning him with her stare. "Put me on the bank."

Cody stood her in the water and folded his arms across his chest. He shook his head. "Nope. It's two steps and your feet are already wet now."

"I don't like you, Cody," she grumbled.

"That's not true because I can tell you do," he said.

Fin poked her tongue at him and stepped out of the water. While she had her back turned, she grinned and blushed because he knew she liked him. There was a splash. Water soaked her back. Fin squealed and turned around. Cody floated on his back smiling and flicked water at her. "What are you cooking me for dinner, woman?"

Fin covered the lower half of her face with one of the towels and said, "Nothing now." She grinned so hard that it hurt her mouth. She liked that he'd called her woman. It made her feel beautiful.

Cody roared with laughter, turned on his stomach and swam towards the middle of the waterhole. It was deeper and the current was stronger because of the heavy rain.

Max followed him into the water. "Nah, mate." Cody pushed him away to avoid being scratched.

Fin sat on a rock and watched him swim with Max. He appeared to be good at lots of things. He was strong and could fight. He built things and could fix his car. He read, swam and played the guitar. He must have grown up with a good family to be able to do all of those things.

Cody climbed out of the water and squeezed his hair. Fin handed him a towel. He wiped his face and said, "What are you cooking me for dinner?"

"You're not being very nice to me." Fin fought to keep a straight face. "I don't think I'll cook you anything."

"You better cook me something or I'll wet you."

"You already wet me." Fin turned her back to him. "See."

Cody laughed. He dropped the towel, wrapped his arms around her and then rubbed his wet hair on her back.

She screamed and bucked in his arms. "Cody, I hate you!"

"No, you don't," he hooted. "You like my house and my voice so that means you like me. What are you cooking me for dinner?" he growled into her neck.

Fin shrieked and bucked some more. "Cody, let me go!"

"Not until you tell me what you're cooking me for dinner."

"Pie. Meat pie," she squealed. "Made from the leftovers."

"See that wasn't so hard, was it?" He let her go and grabbed his towel

Fin held her head high and strode along the track.

"Hey!" Cody called, "What about your towel?"

"If I have to cook your dinner you have to carry the towels," Fin said over her shoulder.

Cody watched her hips sway and chuckled. He grabbed the towel, ran after her, grabbed her hand and grinned. Her eyes flashed in surprise but she didn't pull away. This was their beginning. He knew it and she knew it too.

She skipped forward, took hold of his forearm with her free hand and rested her head on his upper arm as they walked. "I do like you, Cody. You're nice to me and you make me laugh."

"I like you too, Fin. You're nice to me and make me laugh," he said. "Especially when you slip in the mud and throw baby tantrums."