Ted was there the day Lane made it home. He and Uncle Wright and Lisa had come home to roost at the Towers on the Crest, having been gone for any number of years. They had been living at the Towers for about half a year, when Ayla was arrested by Colonel Varda, long enough to be her real family. He wasn't sure how Wright and Lisa felt, but he felt pretty useless that there was nothing he could do to rescue her.

When they dumped her on the Towers doorstep, having broken her spirit, he was devastated. Ayla was a loving, sweet, kind woman, who was desperately in love with a man she hadn't seen in six months. Finding out that her love had been killed somewhere on some back street, battling her own personal enemy, Colonel Varda, was the final straw. She was inconsolable.

Ted was beyond amazed to see Lane appear after all the long months that Ayla had waited for him. Surprisingly, he liked the guy almost immediately. It was obvious that he would do anything for Ayla, including die for her. As the days and months passed, and Lane worked so hard to restore his love's spirit, and having succeeded, worked hard for the Towers herself. Ted grew to think of him as family, hoping the guy would actually become his brother someday.

Ted found it hard to believe that this man could be so selfless. There was nothing binding him to the Towers, except his love for Ayla. Yet everyday he showed a cheerful face, loved Ayla, loved the family, and loved the Towers.

Ted had confided in Lane that he was in love with an old school chum's girlfriend, and had been suffering from an unrequited love for years now. Ted described  the young lady, Beth, as a sweet, beautiful, wonderful girl, who could do much better than the piece-of-shit man that she so desperately loved. He mentioned that the P-O-S treated her like dirt...and a sex slave. The bastard had actually bragged about some of the things that he made her do, just because he could.

Lane, the hopeless romantic and nice guy that he was, determined that it was his responsibility to "rescue" the young lady and heal Ted's lonely heart. He was able to at last set his campaign in motion at the annual Towers Dinner-Dance.

Ted was a semi-host at the dance and did not have a date as such. Beth and Ted's friend, Jimmy, attended as a couple, but spent much of the evening at sixes and sevens. (...Lisa's description...she enjoyed Regency romances and was using UK rules at the dance, so she kept throwing in British idioms whenever she had a chance...) Beth danced with every guy that asked, and Jimmy refused to dance even one dance with her.  Lane described it as a spat, but hoped he could turn their quarrel into an out-and-out brawl.

During the evening, the Towerses had set up a line dance, so everyone could dance along and have fun, even without a partner. Beth desperately wanted to join in the fun, but Jimmy was having none of it. Lane, who had been turned away by Beth earlier because she was having a "spat" with Jimmy, spotted the couple quarreling again, and sent Ted to fetch her for the line dance. He instructed him to ask Jimmy, not Beth, and the ploy had worked. Jimmy liked being "in control." over Beth. Beth liked getting to dance. And poor ol' Ted just liked getting to hold hands with Beth for a very few seconds and to dance with her for a very few minutes.

Beth was so thrilled. She liked Ted. He was such a sweet guy.  And dancing with Lane! Even if it was just a line dance, dancing with Lane was a dream of every female in the place. He was       so-oo good-looking and just the nicest guy. Ted wasn't stupid. He knew she had a crush on Lane, but then who didn't. He snickered to himself, "Hell...If I wasn't in love with Beth, I might make a pass at him myself..."

Ted glanced at Beth, and she was looking back at him. He returned his sweetest smile, and reached over and took her hand for the couple seconds that the dance allowed. She had been noticing Ted smiling to himself, and admired how gracefully he was moving through the steps of the dance. She beamed a happy smile back at him and turned away as the dance steps required. When she again had Ted in her sight, she saw that he was gazing at her with a soft, sweet smile on his lips. (...Lips? Why would she think of his lips? Why was she looking at his lips?...)

When the dance was over, she was reluctant to leave the dance floor. A few other people were still dancing and singing as well, and she was stalling watching them. Ted stepped to her side and placed a gentle hand on the small of her back, as much as he was willing to dare, when he really wanted to put his arms around her and kiss her breathless. She looked up at his face, noticed his adoring expression as he gazed down at her. She nearly gasped at the naked need she saw in his eyes. 

Breaking the spell, she reluctantly advised him, "I have to get back to Jimmy." His smile faded a little and he took her elbow and escorted her back to Jimmy. Bowing slightly over her hand, he kissed the air above her fingers. "Thank you for dancing with me, Beth." He stood as tall as he could and looked directly at Jimmy, who gave him a blank look and a curt nod. Roughly taking Beth's hand, Jimmy pulled her to his side. Ted noticed the slight look of pain on her face, realized that Jimmy had hurt her when he grabbed her hand. She said nothing and lowered her eyes so that no one else could see.

Ted wanted to hit him. (...bastard!...) Instead he kept his head, whirled on his heel, and went to find a cold drink. He needed something strong now. Lane had noticed the whole passage out of the corner of his eye. He looked at Jimmy, who was now haranguing poor Beth. (...bastard !... Gonna have to do something...)

 A few mornings later, Lane was, for the first time, getting to work in his new office (...the minions had nicknamed it "The Throne Room"...) in the basement.  He was feeling out the components arrangement to see how the flow of the work would go. Hearing an unusual noise coming from the CashCache, (...the minions name for the storage room off Lane's office...) he stood and moved to the door to investigate.

He discovered Ted with a large cardboard tube tucked under his arm. "Hi, Ted. What are you doing?"

"Oh, hi, Lane. Just fetching some artwork that GrandDad had left for me. Never knew where it was until you found this storage room." 

Lane looked toward the dark in the back of the room. "There is a lot of stuff in here." He started to gaze around the room, when a sharp pain rendered him unconscious, Jimmy having cracked him on the head with the butt of a gun. Lane crumpled to the floor, with Ted catching him to keep him from getting hurt further.

Ted demanded, "What the hell are you doing?" Jimmy argued that Lane was going to catch them. Ted countered that he could have easily talked his way out of it and that they were caught for sure, since everything is recorded. Hurting Lane would make someone examine the recordings very carefully. Ted added sarcastically, "I believe that they might recognize at least one of us."

Jimmy told Ted to "Finish him, and let's get outta here."

"No!"

"What's the matter with you?" Lane had come around but was wise enough not to move. He recognized the voice, but couldn't quite place it.

"Lane is like my brother. I'm not gonna let you kill him." Ted tossed the tube to Jimmy. As he bent to catch it, Lane was able to see his face, before quickly closing his eyes. (...Jimmy...the bastard...) Ted had given him the two pieces of art and the Provenance that went with them, evidently as a black mail pay off. Jimmy advised that he was leaving tonight and already had a buyer. Ted asked about Beth.

Jimmy told Ted he could have her. He didn't want her anymore anyway. Both Lane and Ted thought, "Bastard."

Ted told him to get out, so he could help Lane. Jimmy got. Ted called a medical emergency to Airen. Ayla beat him there. Lane wanted to get up and chase Jimmy, eben as moving his head the slightest bit brought a sharp pain. Between Ted, the minions,  Ayla, and Airen they were able to restrain Lane long enough to get him upstairs to his bed.

Ayla demanded an explanation. Hurting Lane was the one thing that could crack her calm facade. Ted was trying to explain about his complicity in Lane's painful wound, when Lane spoke up and told them that Ted had saved his life. He advised that Jimmy had wanted to kill him, but Ted had protected him. He owed Ted his life, Lane told her, and had expressed his gratitude to Ted.

Ted asked to speak to Lane alone, if it would be all right. Dr. Perkins and Ayla both told Ted to make sure that Lane did not get out of bed. Ted agreed and said he'd hold him down if he had to. Lane grumped, but didn't try to do anything foolish. He was already suffering a nasty headache from the last couple of attempts to get up.

Lane listened as Ted worried out loud. He was beside himself wanting to contact Beth and ensure her safety. Jimmy was so mean that he might hurt her just for the fun of it. How can I go to her? Lane commiserated and called Airen back into the room. With instructions from Lane, Airen gathered a couple of body guard applicants that were on site and who had volunteered to accompany Ted, "just in case." (...Lane got the inkling of an idea when this situation came up...household protectors...) With one of the volunteers, Larry, driving, Ted twitched anxiously all the way to Beth's place.

When they arrived, Larry stayed with the car, and the, other, Thomas went up to Beth's apartment on the second floor with Ted. Ted knocked, and Beth's door just opened when he touched it. He leaned in, waving Thomas off. "Stay here...Look out for Jimmy..." He paused a second... "Please..." Thomas nodded, (...thinking that this nice guy wasn't up to a real fight. He put himself on "alert....") Looking over the front room, Ted saw a mess. Furniture was overturned. Pictures and lamps were broken. Books and such were scattered everywhere.

"Beth?" he queried softly. No answer. "Beth..Are you here?" He took a couple more steps into the room. From the bedroom, he could hear a soft sobbing. He hurried over to her bedroom door, and pushed it open. Beth jumped as if he were a monster. When she recognized Ted, she jumped up and ran into his arms, sobbing hysterically.

"Teddy...Thank God you're here." 

"Beth, are you all right? What happened?" 

She sobbed into his chest. "Jimmy said he didn't want me..." She wound her arms around Ted's chest and cried the harder. "He hit me."

"Shh. Don't cry. I'm here, honey. I won't let him hurt you anymore." He lifted her face, cupping her cheeks in his two hands. "What did he do to you?" 

"He said you could have me if you still wanted me when he was through with me." She dropped her eyes and whispered. "He hit me...and...and...and he raped me." She lowered her eyes and blushed in shame. An intense red burned behind Ted's eyes.

She had a black eye, a torn lip, and her cheek was one solid ugly bruise. "Bastard..." Ted murmured between clenched teeth.  He put his hand under her chin and examined her more carefully. It was then that he noticed that her blouse was almost shredded and he saw a bite mark on a breast. "I may have to kill him yet."

"No. No, Ted." She shook her head. "I just want to get out of here. I don't think he's coming back." She paled at the thought, "I hope." She clutched at Ted's shirt. "He said he was going to Brussels tonight."

"He'd better." He turned around and called Thomas, who promptly stuck his head around the door facing.

"Yes, sir, Mr. Towers?"

"Thanks, Thomas. And it's just Ted. Have the car brought to the door. We'll be right down."  He turned to Beth and draped his jacket over her shoulders. "Pack what you can't do without. We're going to the Towers." She nodded and quickly started shoving things into a small leather bag. When she finished and was looking around for anything else she might need, he grabbed the bag up, and sliding his arm around her waist, guided her to the door, which he kicked closed. Holding her carefully around her waist, he nearly carried her down the stairs. "If you need something else, we can come get it or have Lane conjure it up. C'mon."

Thomas and the car were waiting on the curb. Thomas took the bag from Ted, threw it into the front seat, and opened the back door for Ted and Beth. "Thanks." He nodded at Thomas. Ted picked Beth up and cuddling her to his chest, he dropped onto the back seat, keeping her on his lap. Thomas slid in on the other side. Ted directed Larry to "Take us home."

On the way, Ted called Airen and asked for the doctor, not sure if he would be there. He advised he was bringing in a young girl who'd been beaten up.

Arriving at the Towers, he set her on her feet, gently examined her face again, and escorted her straight to his own apartment. In the hall outside his door, he encountered Dr. Perkins, Ayla, and Airen, all of whom were waiting for him. Airen excused himself, expecting further instructions in a few moments. Ayla hugged Beth to her breast, held her close, cooing nothing words to her, as she kind of took over escorting her. Ted wasn't sure he wanted to release Beth, but catching Stanley Perkins's eye, he realized that Beth needed a woman's help at this moment. 

Dr. Perkins and Ayla tried to bar Ted from joining them, but he was not going to be turned away. Beth whispered, "Please...I'd like Teddy to stay..." She dropped her eyes, her lower lip trembling. After a few minutes, when she started explaining what Jimmy had done, Ted wasn't so sure he should have stayed. 

He and Dr. Perkins glanced at each other over the heads of the ladies, and exchanged looks of shared misgivings and remembered horrors. Ted tried to keep his face impassive, but he feared he might really kill Jimmy if he ever saw him again. 

Jimmy had rampaged all over her apartment, breaking things just because he could. He chased Beth down, cornered her in her bedroom, and punched her on the chin, nearly knocking her out. Stunned, she fell to the floor, where he jumped on her, tore her clothes and forced himself on her. He hit her again and again while he drove himself into her, as roughly and as hard as he could. When she began crying, he laughed, said Ted could have her when he was through with her. He bit her breast until she bled, told her that it was a permanent souvenir, something to remember him by.

By the time she finished her narrative, she was crying softly, feeling a forlorn and hopeless loss. Ayla understood the helpless lonely feeling that comes with being so violated, but she couldn't imagine how it must feel to have been hurt so badly by the man she had loved for so long. Ayla's eyes moistened, and she held Beth's head on her shoulder as she shook her own head slowly to the two men standing there feeling useless.

Dr. Perkins finally had sway, treated those wounds that would benefit from immediate medicine, planning to sedate her and let her rest. He sent Ayla back to watch over Lane, his other seriously-injured patient. 

Ted had volunteered his rooms for Beth's use, said he'd get other accommodations temporarily. Hearing Ted offer to leave, Beth became nearly hysterical again. "Please don't go. Don't leave me here alone." She raised her hands to him. "I don't want to be alone. " She hiccuped and hyperventilated a series of gasping sobs. Recovering her voice, she begged, "Teddy...please stay with me." She reached out and grabbed at his hand.

He let her take his hand and closed his fingers around hers. "Honey, I'll stay right here." He turned a significant look on the good doctor. Dr. Perkins stepped to Ted's side and murmured so that Beth wouldn't hear. He advised Ted he could, evidently should stay. He planned to give her a pretty strong sedative, and it wouldn't hurt to have someone there to keep an eye on her. He had expected to request a female companion, but Beth seemed to trust Ted.

Having dosed Beth with a fairly powerful sedative, he gave Ted instructions on the things to look for, once she got drowsy, and left the two of them sitting on Ted's sofa. She was sitting all shrunken in on herself, her hands clasped in front of her, looking all around the room, anywhere except at Ted. He placed a hand on her clasped hands and waited until she focused her gaze on him. "Beth...honey...it's gonna be all right. I'm going to take care of you. No one will ever hurt you again...not if I can help it." He put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. She showed him a wobbly smile and blinked up at his concerned expression.

"Teddy, I want to tell you something. I've always known that Jimmy was mean, but I loved him...He's hurt me before, but he always apologized, and promised he wouldn't do it again. " Ted shook his head slowly. "Once or twice he's thrown you up to me, accusing me of...of cheating with you." Ted started to interject. "No, don't say anything...I've always known that you liked me, but I belonged to Jimmy. I was true to him." She hung her head. "I think he was untrue to me." Ted lifted her hands and kissed her fingers.

"Beth, honey? I...I have to tell you something. I love you. I've always loved you. I always will. No, now you don't say anything. I don't expect anything from you, but I want you to know that I'm yours, no matter what." He noticed that she was starting to wane. "Honey, you need to lie down now." He stood and scooped her up like a baby, all ready for bed, Ayla having dressed her in a long nightgown. She gazed at his handsome face with dreamy wonder. "Teddy..."

She murmured words that at any other time would have made his heart leap. At this moment, it only hurt him to hear them, knowing it was the sedative talking, "I love you, Teddy." 

With a lump in his throat, he lay her on his bed. He kissed her cheek. "Go to sleep now. I'll be here watching." She smiled a wispy, dreamy smile and closed her eyes. He whispered, "Sweet dreams, my love."

Ted grabbed a pillow and a sheet and curled himself up on his sofa. All night he suffered dreams of chasing a fragile nymph through a forest of thorns, but never quite being able to reach her, afraid if he did catch her, he'd crush her, afraid if he didn't catch her, she'd fade away from loneliness. He woke up a couple times in a sweat. He was more miserable now than when he used to think of her making love with Jimmy. Knowing now how Jimmy had treated her, he beat himself up for not having intervened sooner. When the too-early morning came, he was thinking about finding another place to sleep, but feared Beth would still need him. He decided that he needed another conference with Lane, the one person who might be sympathetic enough to at least listen, maybe even offer sane advice.

Just as the sun was rising, Ayla and Alice, (...Issy's lady's companion...) showed up with doctor's instructions and fresh clothing for Beth. Ted thought that this would be a good time to make himself scarce. With the ladies company and empathy, Beth should be okay for a while. He checked with Airen to see what room he could temporarily use to shower, shave, and such. Airen sent him to the blue room and forwarded clothes and a young man's necessary toiletries.

Once he'd made himself presentable, he checked with Airen to determine what breakfast plans Lane may have. Determining that Lisa was preparing her best coffee for Lane to have in his rooms, Ted volunteered to serve and met Two in the hall to usurp his tray. Two let him into Lane's room and waited until Lane acknowledged Ted's presence before disappearing. "Morning, Ted. I imagine you have some questions."

"That transparent, huh?" He carried the coffee service out to the balcony. Lane followed him and seated himself on the far side of the table, indicating that Ted sit as well.

"Not really. It's more of a "been there, done that" kind of thing. I was there when Ayla told the doc what had happened to her." He paused a moment as a pang of remembered pain hit him. "I know you have murder on your mind if not in your heart." Ted nodded. Lane looked him directly in the eyes. "We have the means. We can go get him, if you really want to." Ted's mind whirled as he thought of the possibilities. Lane served him a cuppa and offered sugar and cream. Ted abstained. Lane loaded his mug with cream and a little sugar.

"No. He's out of the country. Hope he stays away. They wouldn't let me mete out the punishment anyway." Lane nodded sagely. 

"I understand. Prison's too good for him." He leaned back, savoring his caffeine. "What's on your mind?"

"I don't really know." He gazed at Lane with a look of confused concern. "I just needed to talk to you..." He grinned weakly. "My big brother." Lane grinned back.

He murmured, "Thank you, Ted." He set his mug on a trivet and leaned his elbows on the table. "I think I understand. Sometimes I talk to Airen. I wouldn't burden Wright...or you...with some of my problems, and Airen just listens without judgement. You understand?"

Ted nodded slowly and closed his eyes to organize his thoughts. "May I have that cup now?"

"Certainly." Lane recovered Ted's discarded cup and filled it with Lisa's savory coffee, adding three sugars and a little real cream. He set it in front of Ted. It amazed Ted that Lane would remember how he took his coffee, having only seen him drink the stuff just once.

"Thanks." He took a sip and started his confused exposition. "Lane. You know how much I love her?" Lane nodded. "How do I burden her with that knowledge after what she just went through?" He paused a second and locked eyes with Lane."I'm assuming Ayla told you that he had raped her and beat her..." Lane nodded and lowered his eyes to avoid seeing the pain that Ted was unable to disguise.

"I told her that I love her. Maybe I shouldn't have, but I did, so now I don't know what to do. She said she loved me, but she was traumatized and drugged and almost asleep. I'm afraid to believe it. And now, I'm afraid...Will it be awkward between us, do you think?" He looked off into the distance at the mountains to the East. "Have I already messed up?" He looked so desolate that Lane had to interject, even though he had planned not to.

"Ted, you've done nothing wrong. The girl's not oblivious. She knows how you feel. She's probably glad to know that she can trust you with herself and perhaps her heart." Ted looked so relieved that Lane nearly teared up. (...Damn, it's like trying to soothe a child with his first broken heart...I guess as it goes Ted's my "kid"...maybe the only son I'll ever have...)

"Please, I know you were just going to listen, but I need to know what to do now." Hopefully, he looked into Lane's eyes. 

Reluctantly, Lane advised him. "If it were me, I'd just woo her like we'd just had our first date and we both want a second date." He arched a brow. "Do you understand?"

"I...I think so. Just go forward as if we're just starting out new? I can do that. There're enough  beautiful places here at the Towers to take her on lots of 'dates.'" He "air-quoted" himself.

Lane grinned and nodded. "Don't I know it. I'm still finding new places to take Ayla." He pursed his lips, thinking that Dr. Perkins needs to turn him loose. He wanted Ayla. "I'll ask Ayla and Stanley to let you stay with her, if she still wants you to. There's been many nights that I spent with Ayla just for comfort...for both of us."

"I knew I could count on good counsel from you, sir."

"Sir?...Lane."

"I know...Just kiddin'..." Ted smiled a genuine smile of playfulness for the first time since his encounter with Jimmy yesterday. Lane stood as Ted did, and stuck out his hand to shake. Ted just slammed into him in a hearty hug. "Thank you, Lane. Thank you so much."

He whirled on his heel and nearly ran out of the room to return to his own apartment, perhaps to have breakfast with Beth. He checked with Airen and determined that she had not yet eaten. He told Airen that she loved French toast, Mandarin oranges, and hot cocoa. (...Like Lane does, it's smart to pay attention!...)  He met Three outside his own door and relieved him of his tray. Ayla was just leaving, having made sure that Beth was going to have company. She grinned at Ted and kissed him on the cheek on her way out the door.

Beth was reclining on the chaise lounge on the balcony. Ayla and Alice had keyed her in on her breakfast "date." When she heard the door, she rolled on her side and peered back into the room, spotting Ted balancing the breakfast tray like a pro. He saw her looking and sent her the sweetest smile imaginable. He managed to take a knee without ending up wearing her breakfast. While still on one knee, he set the tray on the table, took her hand, and inquired, "Do you want to stay on the lounge or sit at table?" She looked at the table and at him.

"I want to sit with you." He stood and still holding her fingers in his, helped her to rise,  and seated her at the little round wrought-iron table. Dragging a chair around to her side of the table, he seated himself right next to her. She smiled so warmly, that his heart skipped a beat.

Sliding the tray back, he poured her a tiny cup of cocoa and served her a plate of her favorites. "I think I got this right." She looked over the selection.

"Yes, you did." She placed her hand on his. "How did you remember all this?" 

" I learned a lesson from Lane. Pay attention." He entwined his fingers with hers and looked directly into her eyes. "I've always paid attention when I was with you." She blushed and lowered her eyes. He was entranced by the sight of her long lashes lying on her cheeks. ("...God, she is so beautiful...") Lifting her hand, he gently kissed her palm.

After a short moment of just gazing at each other, he broke eye contact and became very much all business. "Now, eat something." He loaded a spoon with Mandarin oranges and poked it at her lips. She giggled and opened her mouth slightly and accepted a spoon of sweet orange wedges. Smiling broadly, she swallowed and opened her mouth for another spoonful. He loaded another spoon and held it for her. She placed both hands under his and guided his spoon to her mouth. He dabbed at her lips with a linen napkin.

"Let's try Lisa's French toast. I hope you like it. She made it especially for you." Beth's eyes widened and she held one hand under his as he again guided a spoon to her mouth. She chewed and pursed her lips, nodding the whole while. She put her hand over her lips and tried to speak with a mouthful of French toast. "It is so-o good. I must remember to tell her."

Ted had taken a bite as well. His brows raised, he nodded at Beth, "This is good. We'll visit the kitchen and let her know. I wanted you to see the wildflower field out back" He paused and checked her face. "...if you're up for a walk."

"Sure." She glanced at her clothes, a frilly blue maxi dress with a dark blue jacket. Ted glanced out over the fields.

"I think it's warm enough. Let me see your shoes." She stuck up a bare foot. "I believe we'll need to do better than that...Not that anything can be better than this." He took her tiny foot in hand and caressed it gently. He spoke into the air, "Airen, Ayla, Beth needs some walking shoes for the flower fields...low booties, maybe?" Beth just sat and silently admired this Ted, confident and in control...and handsome. ("...Why have I never noticed how good-looking he really is...?")

Three appeared again, this time with a pair of low booties and a pair of sturdy walking shoes on a tray with a collection of socks. Ted murmured, "Gotta give it to the bots. They rarely miss a cue." He took the tray, thanked Three, and offered the footwear to Beth. He chuckled softly watching her make a careful selection from the choices given. She picked the booties and a pair of sky blue socks "to match her periwinkle dress," she advised him. She wriggled and gave him a smug little grin.

Once her feet were covered they exited Ted's quarters hand in hand and skipped down the stairs to the kitchen wing. Lisa was sitting at the scarred old table, sipping coffee, reading the local newspaper. Ted spoke up first. "Lisa, our compliments to the chef." She looked up from her paper with a quizzical raise of her brows.

"What?"

Beth continued, "Miss Lisa, that was some of the best French toast I have ever tasted. Thank you so much for making it for me." She smiled a warm and genuine smile. "The whole meal was just wonderful, the French toast, the oranges. I loved the way you made the cocoa, too." She glanced at Ted, standing to the side gazing at her profile. "And the server was just as sweet..." She blushed and lowered her eyes. Ted beamed and looked at Lisa with his version of a smug smile.

Lisa was pleased with the compliments and quickly threw together a little snack basket for the couple to take on their walk. "Be careful, kids," she admonished. "I don't want to have to send Airen out to find you." They all laughed, although it was not unheard of. In GrandDad's day a young couple fell asleep after a "close encounter" and were fetched by Airen, who having found them en flagrante delicto, were sworn to secrecy for years until the story came out by other means.

The 'kids" left out the back way, Ted with a basket in one hand and Beth's soft hand in his other. Beth was constantly gasping at one beautiful scene after another. She was essentially a city girl and hadn't seen a property like the Towers before. Ted, having grown up here, was not totally inured to the sights, but was less affected by the flora and fauna that made their homes at the Towers.

Beth stepped closer to Ted and leaned on his arm as they wandered onto the wildflower field. Even Ted took a deep breath at the site of blue flowers dipping in the breeze for as far as one could see. There was a small grove of fruit trees a little way sun wards. He placed his hand on hers and leaning down, asked "Would you like to sit out of the sun?" 

She leaned forward and looked around him. Spotting the little grove, she said, "Sure." They wandered slowly in that direction, hand in hand. Reaching the stand of trees, he pulled a blanket out of the basket, spread it next to a tree, and holding both her hands seated her carefully. He pulled two bottles of water from their store and seated himself next to her. They were facing downfield toward the house and the cliffs beyond, and Beth was again breathless at the verdant scene. "Ted, didn't you live here before?"

"I grew up here. "

"It must have been wonderful."

"Never thought about what an unusual childhood I had. It was just home to me. I used to roam these fields, fish in the lake and the river, and even had a puppy that grew up here with me. I guess I was lucky. I had a townie girlfriend when I was about fourteen, (...I wish it had been you, though...) and she hated it out here."

Beth was aghast at the possibility. "How could someone not love this? I wish it had been me. You'd have had a hard time getting me to leave." She had turned toward him and was leaning on one elbow. He scooted down to lean on his elbow, facing her. 

"You read my mind..." He leaned toward her, his eyes on her lips. He glanced up at her eyes, looking for a sign of resistance, giving her a chance to stop him. She didn't. He raised a hand and pulled her face closer, his fingers in her soft blond curls, and touching his lips to hers with gentle insistence. She returned the pressure just the tiniest bit, and that little encouragement gave him the signal he had hoped for. He pressed his lips firmly to her mouth and touched his tongue to her lips. No response. (...Too soon...I've frightened her...)He pulled back and searched her face for some kind of sign. She was very still, her eyes closed, her lips trembling slightly. 

(...Faint heart , fair maiden, and all that....) Gathering his courage, he touched his lips to hers again, no tongue, no insistence. After a couple seconds, her lips parted and she drew breath from his mouth. She pressed her lips firmly to his and drew his tongue into her mouth, caressing it and sucking gently. (...My God...amazing...His mind whirled in disbelief...) She scooted her body closer and wound her arm around his neck and slowly lay back, pulling him down with her, his torso hovering over her. She slipped an arm around his chest and dragged him down to lay his upper body on her. His moved his hand to her waist and pulled her tight against himself. 

(...Never imagined it could be like this...) He was kissing Beth, and she was responding to him. After what seemed the shortest minutes of his life, he lifted his lips. Like waking from a deep dream, he had to drag his consciousness to the fore, and slowly opened his eyes to see her gorgeous face. She was slowly opening her eyes, too. She looked at his lips, and focused on his eyes.

"Teddy..." she breathed. "I always heard that you can tell if he loves you in his kiss...God, Teddy..." She caressed his jaw. "How could I not have known?" She stretched her neck and lay her lips on his. He held still until she leaned back again. In barely a whisper, she murmured, "You love me..." He nodded so very slowly one time.

Suddenly, she dropped her hands to her sides, clutching and releasing the fringe on the edge of the blanket. Ted lifted himself on one elbow and was afraid to move. (...She looks like she expects me to hit her or something...) He removed the hand that lay at her waist. (...What if I make the wrong move...She looks petrified...) He found his voice. "Beth...honey...I won't hurt you." (...He had to convince her..) "If you ask me, I'll walk away right now." She blinked rapidly and kind of shook her head.

He sat up slowly and turning away from her, rested his elbows on his knees. She scrambled to a sitting position and lay a hand on his arm. He turned his head to look at her. "Beth? I didn't mean to frighten you. God, that's the last thing I wanted to do." She nodded her head.

"I know. I didn't mean to freak. You did everything right, but...well, bad memories came..." She paused and her eyes moistened. "I'm sorry, Teddy. I didn't want to hurt you either."

"Maybe, it's too soon. I should never have..."

"Teddy, I'm not the fragile flower you may think I am. It was a bad moment. It won't happen again."

"Yes, honey, it will. You may be able to control your head, or even to follow your heart, but your body will remember." He had turned, with one arm supporting him, facing her. Her face took on the look of an impassive observer. She scrambled to her knees, and holding her long skirts in both hands, crawled on her knees close enough to him to look down at his sadness-filled face. She gazed at him a second. He stared back, a look of resigned desolation reflected in his beautiful blue eyes. 

Placing determined hands on either side of his face, she turned his face up to hers and lowered her lips to his mouth, pressing trembling lips to his. The gentle kiss almost broke his heart. She increased the gentle pressure until she was forcing his lips to part. Closing her eyes and parting her lips against his, she slipped her tongue into his mouth and gently sucked his tongue. He closed his eyes, willing this moment not to end.

Turning his body to face hers, he placed firm hands on her hips and moved slowly up to her waist. He raised himself up on his knees and found his body fully against hers, her hands still directing his lips for her kiss. She slid her hands into his hair in a sweet caress, as his arms wound around her waist. (...Damn, I'm helpless against this little girl...)

Taking over the kiss, he increased the pressure until she was forced to arch her neck. She wound her arms all the way around his neck, and kept herself upright by holding onto him. She tangled her fingers, stroking his now thoroughly mussed blond hair. He drew the very breath from her sweet lips and felt completely intoxicated. He crushed her kiss-softened lips for another second before he lifted his lips and gazed with half-opened eyes into hers.

Whispering softly, she sang in a sweet soprano, "It's in his kiss." She brushed a thumb across his lips. "Your kiss...It's not too soon...And I...love you. How could I not?...I want you..." She looked deep into his eyes. "Teddy...Do you understand me? I need you...your love...to make it right...Will you...love me?"

"I hope I understand...Honey, are you sure?" (...It'd probably do me in...if I get it wrong this time ...)

She brushed her lips across mouth and murmured against his lips, "Yes...yes, Teddy...Please..." She had already started pulling his jacket and shirt off his arms. He searched her face and stared into her eyes before sliding her puffy sleeves off her shoulders, exposing the ivory-toned skin of her shoulders, her decollettage, and the symmetrical collar bones at her throat. He kissed the hollow at her throat and dragged the bodice down to display her breasts, moving gently with her labored breathing. "Beautiful..."

By some unseen signal, they both stood and dropped the rest of their clothing to the ground. She bent, picked up the pile and threw it aside. As she resumed standing, her face passed by his eager male shaft, drawing her admiring stare. He saw her looking , glanced down at himself, and cocked his head slightly at her tentative smile. A small smile played about his lips, too. He took a small step closer, so close that her breasts brushed against his chest, so close that his manhood was warmed by her neatly-trimmed curly blond "landing strip." She stepped closer until he was pushed into the hollow at the top of her thighs, until her aching breasts were crushed against his hard chest.

He wrapped one arm around her waist and one around her shoulders, lifting her off the ground. She wound both arms around his chest and held on. They both bent their knees and fell to the blanket, arms around each other. Somehow they managed to lie on the blanket without breaking anything, her body beneath his.

He raised up on his arms, gazing down at the beautiful woman below him. Placing a gentle hand on his manhood, she guided him into the moist lips of her vulva. Slipping into her body he sucked in a swift inhalation. Arching her neck and her back, she moved to receive the entire length and breadth of him. She sighed his name, "Teddy..." 

Looking at her gorgeous face as her eyes began to close, he moved tenderly deeper. "Beautiful Beth..." She looked through her lashes at his handsome face, a trembling smile on her lips, as he struck a gentle rhythm in and out of her body.

"Beautiful Teddy..." She ran her hands up his arms in a raking caress. Smiling a dreamy smile she shivered in a delicious spasm as pleasure began licking around the edges of her consciousness. She breathed in deep sighs and clutched at his shoulders as the pleasure/pain mounted. She opened her eyes and looked directly into his. "Beautiful...Teddy..."

That look brought a sharp stab of aching pleasure crashing, pulsing in the column of his flesh that joined them. He tried to hold back. (...Not yet...not yet...His mind pleaded with his body...) She hadn't found her release yet. His mind lost. Seeing the look of wonder, feeling her entire body tense and then relax in a rush of joy, his heart bounded in his chest, and he fell to his elbows. Waves of pleasure rocked her, centering on the throbbing column of Ted's flesh that was piercing her soul. His body reeled in wondrous pleasure, until his mind regained control. Gazing at her misty eyes, he kissed her reddened lips and lay his head in the crook of her neck.

"Beautiful Beth...my beautiful Beth..." He turned his head to look into her eyes.

"Yes, Teddy...your Beth."

Airen checked on the Ted and Beth in the wildflower field again, and zooming in and having heard the sounds of human persons "becoming one," he knew he must watch over and protect the new young couple to keep them safe. Resetting to default, he decided to check on them later. If they were not back in-house by sunset, he may have to fetch them or watch all night. He would wait and decide which is best, depending upon their behavior later.

Lane was also concerned about Ted and Beth. The experience that Ted had had prompted Lane to hire bodyguards as his first project, specifically Thomas and maybe Larry. He headed down to his office to begin the hiring process.