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This has been floating around in my mind for a long while. Inspired by the song Don't ever let it end by Nickelback “Guess who got tickets to the game on Sunday!” Faith hears before she sees a long leg step over the back of the old lounge chair before the other as he sits down rather unorthodoxly. “You’ll come right Faith? You like hockey?” He asks grinning like an idiot next to the pretty blonde that was also on the couch.“Seriously Jem, can you not act normal ever?” Faith rolls her eyes. Looking towards the two other girls around her, a brunette and a redhead who both roll their eyes. Both are similar enough for a double take but different enough for it to be questionable if they were twins or not.“Never? Come on, it will be fun and we can stop by Tims on the way back and make fun of the cops who sit in the parking lot eating doughnuts,” Jem says nudging her.“What about us are we invited?” The redhead asks.“Sure, dear sister you are more than welcome to come along. If you buy your own tickets,” Jem says simply. “I only have two after all and one has already been claimed Di, and Nan well you have Jerry to take you if you truly wanted to go.”“I haven’t even accepted yet?” Faith exclaims.“But you always will,” Jem grins. “I have to get to class now, see you all later. Faith I’ll see you Sunday! Meet you at the arena? I know you work you stay behind at church for the whole coffee thing”Faith shakes her head. “Your brother is certifiable, you know that right?” She asks them.“Oh of course, but you’re the one who puts up with him,” The twins say in unison.“For the last time, there is nothing between us,” Faith tells him.“Yeah, will tell that to the school and usually if you sleep with someone it means you’re into them?” Nan reminds her.“Seriously it was once and we were drunk,” Faith huffs. “We were kids,” she adds once for even more a wave off.“Oh yes, because eighteen and twenty are children,” Di rolls her eyes.“It was a Halloween dorm party, we both agreed that it was a silly thing to do.” Faith glares.“You are both in denial,” Nan says shaking her head. “I have to get to class, see you later.” Faith is still shaking her head as she breathes in the cold air as she walks down the street to the arena. She had brought a change of clothes, changing out of her church dress to her warm fleece leggings, tee-shirt to wear underneath the hoody and her very own hockey jersey that she had for such occasions.“Ahaha I found you,” she hears, as she sees the familiar shoes of Jem Blythe, his curly red hair covered by a toque and a scarf wrapped around his hockey Jersey. “I thought I told you I would pick you up?”“You said to meet at the arena,” Faith says shaking her head.“Right my bad!” He says shaking his head, a stray curl escaping. He wraps his arm around her shoulder. “It’s bloody cold out today.”“Well it is January,” Faith says shaking her head as they reach the arena and he fishes out the tickets.“Beer or hot chocolate?” She asks him looking at concessions.“Beer please,” Jem says. “The usual, and here,” he flips her his debit card.“I have money Jem,” Faith says shaking her head.“I knew but I got paid today, so just humour me will you.” He flashes her a grin and she just takes his card.The arena is cold, Faith grips her hot chocolate, while Jem holds his beer as they go find their seat. Faith looks at him with a smile, her gloves still on her hands as she held her hot chocolate with two hands.His toque ends up on her head at some point, her golden hair around her shoulders as they both get into the game with a loud vengeance. It was a running joke that Faith had no filter when it came to the game. She wasn’t one for cursing, but she gladly yelled whatever profanities that came to her mind.“Defence! Seriously defence my god you are all idiots!” Faith finds her shouting. “My baby brother can play better than you!”She looks over at Jem who is laughing at her.“Oh come on, the ref is missing half of the penalties!” She says sitting back down.“You know why I bring you to games Faith, because your commentary is so much better than the actual game,” Jem says with a huge grin on his face.They are laughing on the way out of the arena, the cool air hits their cheeks and they laugh as they race down the street.“I believe you promised me doughnuts,” Faith tells him.“Come on then,” Jem laughs and shakes his head, his arm wrapping around her shoulders once more. “Heavens forbid that you don’t get your doughnuts.”“Damn right!” Faith says laughing, moving in front of him, standing on her tippy toes in her winter boots.Golden brown, might the hazel ones for a brief moment as she looks over the ginger stubble on his face before pulling a piece of fluff from his facial hair.“There you go,” she says before returning to her spot beside him, trying to keep her heart from beating rapidly. The image of his lips is trapped in her mind, she remembers the kisses they gave her once before.“Thanks,” he says gruffly.They reach the classic doughnut shop, they find a table near the window before Jem goes to grab the promised doughnuts.He put down the tray with a box of treats and what most likely is more hot chocolate or coffee for them.“How many do you expect me to eat,” Faith says investigating. “Ooh my favourite, you know me so well.”“Well, we’ve been friends and neighbours for god knows how long,” Jem says with a shrug. “How’s nursing doing?”“It’s fine, medical?” Faith asks him“Hard but worth it?” He says as his phone buzzes and lights up and Faith can’t help but glance at it.“Just Rilla freaking about biology class and school in general,” Jem tells her without a beat“Oh god do they still have to dissect that fetal pig still?” Faith asks making a face.“Apparently so? She’s trying to get dad to write her a note out of it, but it’s not working” Jem explains before biting into a doughnut.“How is she doing? She went through a lot only to have to go through another traumatic thing?” Faith asks quietly.“She’s—?” Jem stops for a moment. “She’s a wreck, she cries a lot but getting better I guess? Walter is around a lot for her, and Kenneth Ford, he stayed over Christmas as well.”“He’s the one who found her?” Faith asks quietly and Jem nods.“She barely lets anyone touch her, but she trusts him which is good I guess, even if no one can understand why?” Jem says.“Well give her my love next time you see her,” Faith says after a short pause. “No peanut gallery of cops tonight?”“Doesn’t seem like it,” Jem says musing out loud. “Strange?”“Indeed,” Faith says nodding her head. “Walk me home?” She asks him, knowing he will anyway.“Always, one can never be too safe these days,” Jem tells her frowning at his words, and talking about his baby sister only a few moments before. “Jem?” Faith asks once outside, her arm tucked into his as they walked to her place.“Yeah?” He looks down at her.“You know what, nothing,” Faith says shaking her head. “Thanks for the day, I had fun.”“Anytime,” Jem says smiling at her. “You know me, I’m the best sort of friend someone can have.”“Friends,” Faith says quietly. “Friends are good to have I guess.”

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I hope you enjoy this one, I do really love writing this two as such...I see this being the early 2000s with no camera phones and having to actually develop concert photos, hoping they would turn out! Mine never did!"So when are you going to make an honest woman out of my sister," Jerry says across the table at the library in a hushed tone."Choice words friend," Jem says looking at his friend. "Considering you are having coitus with one of my sisters One might be asking you the same question?""Seriously can you be normal, and just call it sex? Jerry rolls his eyes.Jem grins and leans closer to his friend. "Coitus, intercourse, pre-martial relations, fornication.""Seriously," Jerry says rolling his eyes and Jem grins."Seriously, Jere we're just friends. It just works and we're both busy in school. It's fine, it's good, we have a good time and don't have to worry about feeling and unwanted pregnancies." Jem says shrugging."Do you and my sister have never crossed the line? Ever.""Nope," Jem lies, popping the P on the word. That Halloween night is buried deep away. No one but them needed to know about it.Jerry shakes his head. "God the two of you need help then." He says under his breath.Jem just shrugs and goes back to his textbooks."You're taking her to that concert in a day or two though?""I am," Jem looks back up at his friend. "I should probably go and ask her to go," Jem says closing his books."You haven't even told her about it yet?" Jerry shakes his head."Oh she'll go, I have no fear," Jem says grinning."How's Rilla doing?" Jerry asks changing the subject."She's…."Jem stops for a moment. "She's taking it day by day Dad says. Some days are worse than others, some she won't leave her house."Jerry nods his head. "Una mentioned that she was over the other day to visit.""Well, I'm sure that Rilla appreciates the visit even if she can't say it right now," Jem says simply."Una said that they don't allow her to be alone?" Jerry asks hesitantly."Well, you are studying trauma response, would you let someone be alone?" Jem says quietly packing his bag."So they are on high alert as Una said?" Jerry asks quietly. Jem doesn't answer, but that was an answer enough for Jerry.""I have to go, see you later." He said clearing his throat.Jem walks across the campus, he knew her schedule, and he knows where she went between nursing classes.He spots her blonde hair before she even knows he's there."Tickets to the infamous band that Faith Meredith would go crazy for Saturday?" Jem tells her to sit down at the student centre table she was at and laid down two tickets in front of her."How in the world?" Faith says shaking her head. "These were sold out, not to mention -way too expensive and out of our price range!""I know people, who owed me a favour," Jem says shrugging. "So you'll go?""Well duh," Faith says. "I'll make dinner any night you want for a thank you.""It's all good," Jem waves a hand."I'll make cheesecake." Faith grins."Okay, okay you twisted my arm," Jem says laughing. "I got to run back across campus for class, I'll pick you up tomorrow for the show, five o'clock? We can get dinner?" he says looking at his smartwatch."I'm buying then," Faith tells him. "It's my turn anyway.""Fine, fine," Jem giving in.Faith shakes her head and waves him off as he flashes her one of his grins.He picks up Faith two days later"What are you doing!" Jem exclaims as Faith who had just jumped into his truck from the house she rents a room in, whips off her shirt."Changing what does it look like?" Faith says as she pulls on a black, jagged-cut crop top of the band they were seeing. "You know Mrs. White would have a heart attack if she saw me in this. I'm a pastor's daughter, they don't dress in stuff like this."Jem shakes his head, focusing on the road trying not to look at the young woman who was practically changing in front of him. Granted he's seen it all before, he's kissed parts of her that he would never admit to.She pulls at the long floral skirt she was wearing, to reveal a short black skirt and fishnets.Long blonde hair, straightened, and partly pulled back by a braid on each side."You can look now," Faith teases him as she reaches for her Docs and laces them up."Funny," Jem says with another shake of the head.They park at the university, as he has parking before walking downtown toward the arena where the show was being held out.They end up in a pub, each with a drink and plates of nachos and chicken wings. Jem watch her eat with a smile on his face."Don't stare it's not polite," Faith chides him."Well, you have sauce all over your face," Jem says pointing out, handing her a napkin. In the early days of college, or their friendship he was in awe of her eating habits. After watching his sisters and mothers constantly complain about five extra pounds and what sort of diet they were going on next.Faith blushes as she takes the napkin.They get to the arena as the doors are opening. They stand in line waiting as they go through security and have their tickets torn and scanned.Another line for drinks and then they make their way around to get to floor access. Maybe it was the aftermath, the knowing that horrible things can happen at any time is what makes Jem paranoid about the crowds of people. He didn't think when he got the floor tickets, but that was before his little sister's life changed in an instant.Faith though was having the time of her life, dancing with a drink in her hand. The music was something Glen St Mary would never believe Faith Meredith would ever be in too. Only a few knew Faith in such a way.He glares at anyone who comes remotely close to her. Still, he's happy watching her, dancing with her as she rocks out to the music. Hair flying, head banging, this was not Faith Meredith of Glen St Mary. This was not the Faith they knew, this was the Faith he grew to know, to possibly even love.The band puts on a show that ignites the crowds, singing and screaming along to the words. Faith ends up on his shoulders, drunk and laughing as he holds her thighs keeping her stable. Security is watching, but they don't bother him, and clearly, he was the soberer one tonight.Of course, there is always one song that hits too close to home, the cliche that you avoid Jem thinks to himself. Why is there always some song about friends wanting more but never having the courage to go for it?He protects her from jostling crowds on the way out afterward. Laughing as their hearing adjusts back to normal once outside. The night is bright and warm for Mary, Jem doesn't say anything when she takes his hand as they reach the large park that everyone cuts through after these sorts of things."Have fun?" Jem asks her as the park lamp flicker as they pass by."I did, it was amazing, thank you," Faith tell him. "I'll make you that cheesecake this week.""It's all good Faith," Jem tells her. "Really I just like hanging with you.""A deal is a deal," Faith shakes her head. He can feel a shiver run over her body as they pass through a dead lamp area."Well, you'll just have to come over and help me eat it then, watch a movie or something at my place?" Jem reminds her, applying gentle pressure to her hand."I do enjoy movies," Faith says, squeezing his hand back for a brief moment. She looks around the old back, before stopping without a warning."Wait," Faith says breaking away from him grabbed a disposable camera that we brought to the concert. "We need a photo, under that lamp post for the best light."Jem shakes his head and takes the camera from her. "Longer arms, better photo." He tells her to strike a pose and then the flash goes off. He used the winder on the camera to move to another photo spot before capturing another, making sure not to cut either of them off, he was a head taller than her after all.The photos were mostly overexposed or dark within the arena minus a few, but the ones in the park come out that were now pinned up on cork boards and taped to mirrors. All except one which lived in his anatomy textbook. Faith's blonde hair, his ginger, bright against hers, as she stands in front of him with smiles and twinkling eyes.If you enjoy this let me know! I do love hearing what people think!

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“Hold still will you,” Faith chides him as she holds her stethoscope on his pulse point watching the blood pressure metre do its thing. She hums and unwraps the cuff.“What’s the verdict,” Jem asks.“Normal,” Faith tells him as she opens her next package and pushes around at his veins in the elbow joint.“You know when this is probably the last thing people think we’re doing right now?” Jem says, barely flinching as she finds his vein with the needle and starts to draw blood in the small vial.“You mean you are letting me practice clinical on you?” Faith says to him, keeping calm and focused. “I tried this with Jerry and he was horrible at it.”“Well yeah, he doesn’t like blood,” Jem reminds her. “So what tests are you going to run this week?”“You know all the usual ones,” Faith tells him. “Iron, b-12, STI and pregnancy tests,” she says grinning as she unhooks the vial and places it on the sterile pad. Then she takes and holds a cotton ball to the crook of his arm, untying the elastic with her other hand.“Funny,” Jem says rolling his eyes. “Getting good at that, barely hurt this time around,” He compliments her.“I wasn’t that bad!” Faith huffs.“That's debatable,” Jem grins at her teasingly of course. “We still have to practice our sutures,” Faith reminds him. “Probably should have done that first.”“Ehh, I’ll be fine,” Jem shrugs her off. “Once we’re done we can relax a bit and watch that movie and eat that cheesecake,” he reminds her.“Of course,” Faith laughs. “Always thinking with your stomach,” she shakes her head at him.They work on their silicone suture kits, practicing their stitches on different types of wounds, tears and rips.“Slow and steady,” Jem reminds her. “No one likes a scar,” he teases.“No one likes a know-it-all,” Faith responds sticking out her tongue at him and reaching over for her bag of things. Sweater riding up her side, tape and bruises showing slightly.“Jesus what the hell happened!” Jem says pulling at her sweater enough for a better view of the injury.“I fell off the rock wall and swing back into the wall. I’m fine, I took some ibuprofen for it,” Faith explains.“Let me see it,” Jem says shaking his head and Faith rolls her eyes.“My classmates already did,” She tells him.“And I’m in medical school, I have more credit to my name,” Jem reminds her. “Take off the shirt and let me see it.”Faith rolls her eyes, lifting her shirt and pulling it over her head. “Last week you were shunning the sight of my bra, and this week you’re begging for it?”“Completely different,” Jem tells her, gently prodding the affected area with his fingers. Carefully, around the edge of the lace of her bra that was thankfully cute and comfortable. He gently feels and manipulates his hands feeling her ribs and torso.The door suddenly opens to the apartment and he looks at them for a long moment.“You know when most people play doctor, it’s not actually doctoring,” he tells them.“Har Har, very funny,” Jem says rolling his eyes. “I think you’ll survive,” Jem tells Faith,“God you two are the strangest people I met,” Steven, Jem’s roommate shakes his head. “Just sleep together already and get it over with.”“Sex isn’t everything,’ Faith says pulling her shirt down and blushing lightly.“Only people who say that are generally in denial,” Steve says with a grin.“Come on, we still have the cheesecake and movie to watch,” Jem says grabbing Faith's hand and pulling her toward his room.“I’d say no glove, no love, but that would be pointless,” the roommate calls out and Jem just throws up his middle finger at him and shuts his bedroom door.“Sorry about him,” Jem mumbles.“It’s fine,” Faith says shrugging as Jem opens up his mini fridge and tosses Faith a beer and one for himself. It was late when Jem’s phone rang as he picks it up Faith noticed. Jem doesn’t leave though, he mainly hit accept.“Dad?”“I thought you might want to know that we’re at the hospital,” he hears his father say. His voice is hoarse and scratchy.“What happened?” Jem asks sitting up in the bed, Faith frowning.“She seemed okay lately, she seemed like she was getting a bit of spark back to her. We left her only for an hour, just to go for a walk. She was still in her room, but I saw the cabinet open in the bathroom and off chance, I looked at her prescriptions. She tried to make it look full, but it wasn’t.” His father says quietly.“Mom?” Jem asks.“With her,” the older man responds. “I just wanted to warn the rest of you what happened, and if no one answers the phone at home, or if Rilla doesn’t seem to be responding to hers.”“Thanks,” Jem says sighing. “She’s going to be okay?”“She might be in time, I’m going to reach out to a few old colleagues to see if there are any good programs that might help her. If we end up in Halifax for better resources you’ll be the first to know.”Jem nods his head, flipping his phone closed after saying goodbye.“You know it’s not your fault right?” Faith says to him trying to reassure him that no one thought it was his fault. “It's just one big horrible thing that happened that should have never happened.”“No one gets it though, I told her about the place, and I took her there thinking I was some cool big brother. If she didn’t know that place existed she would have never gone that night.” Jem lets out.“Jem, that place is not a secret, if she didn’t find it because of you she would have been shown it by other kids. How many parties did we have out there, with half the school?” Faith reminds him.“We weren’t fifteen years old when we were there Faith,”“I was,” Faith reminds him that she was younger than him “I was Rilla’s age when I went there, and honestly maybe it’s good that you showed her that place because she talked about it. She talked about it enough that someone had the sense to go looking for her there when she missed curfew. If she hadn’t told Ken in girlish confidence that she knew of the party place, he wouldn’t have known and given the state he found her in and how much it ended up raining that night?” Faith tries to talk to him out of the guilt that eats at him. “It might have been a lot different?”“Because that—and then finding out that you have to have an abortion because you’re pregnant by your—,” Jem says through his teeth. He still can’t say it.“You are allowed to say the word Jem,” Faith says quietly.“I rather not,” Jem says sighing looking at the time and the four empty cans around them. “You want you can take the bed and I’ll take the couch?” He looks out the window where rain is splattering.“Stay,” Faith says. “I mean the couch is uncomfortable to sit on, I think we’re friends enough to share a bed instead of driving back to my place after drinking in the rain.”Jem nods his head, goes over to his drawers, tossing her a pair of boxers and a white cotton undershirt and passes them to her.“Why her?” Jem says into the dark room. “Why her? She was just some silly spider of a kid?”“No one can answer that Jem,” Faith says reaching out to squeeze his hand, resting on her side she looks at him.She tries to comfort him as best as she can. No one sleeps well after that sort of news after all. Hands running through his ruddy curls methodically.“Don’t ever disappear on me Faith,” Jem says quietly. “I don’t know what I would do without you around.”Faith smiles weakly into the dark. “I’ll try my best.” She tells him.

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Faith didn't expect to see Rilla Blythe in Jem's apartment when letting herself in with the key he gave her. The teenager who had been thin, to begin with was smaller than ever, and what used to be beautiful ruddy red hair, was cut short."Rilla," Faith breathes out the name. Trying to not react, trying not to go over and hug the poor girl because that wouldn't probably end well. "Where's Jem?""Bathroom," She says simply. "Do you always let yourself into his place?""Sometimes, he said he was running late and told me to come over?" Faith says setting down her bag."Mom and Dad are somewhere and didn't want to bring me he got stuck looking after me like him five." The teen explains scratching her arm and wrist, it was red and scratched up. "The cat scratched me." It's a lie though but Faith will let her have it.Faith just nods her head. "Do you want something to drink?" I know where Jem hides the apple juice?" Faith says not sure what else to say. What was Jem doing in there?"I'm fine," the younger girl shakes her head and sits back down as Jem comes out of the bathroom."Ahh, you're here," Jem says. "Thank you for that.""It's not a problem," Faith tells him."Did you ask her over so she can watch over me?" Rilla asks eyes narrowing."Of course not," Jem tells her, "but we had plans to study and since you're here there's no meeting at the library so we'll study here together. You can watch tv or whatever until Mom and Dad come back."Faith smiles awkwardly at Rilla, taking out her textbooks on basic medicine and the dictionary of their uses."Do you know how many anti-depressants you have to take for it to be lethal?" Rilla says out loud reading the book title."Rilla," Jem warns her quietly."What, because apparently 25 of them only put me in the hospital," She finishes with a rather flourished sarcastic tone. Faith who is fairly schooled in not responding emotionally looks at Jem. Part of her wanted to laugh, dark humour got her through her mother's own death when she was twelve after all. She doesn't though.She rests her hand on Jem's forearm, to stop him."Are you dating?" Rilla asks next clearly over the lack of shock value she probably was used to getting at this point."We're just friends," Jem says gruffly."But you sleep together?" Rilla asks again."No, we do not," Jem growls a little. "Stop being so nosy, will you? Read a book, watch something, entertain yourself until Mom and dad come back."Faith watches Rilla's face fall a bit and she gives Jem a look. "Do you want to get some fresh air? There's a nice park nearby we can go for a small walk?" She watches Rilla look outside the window with a look of longing and then there is terror in her eyes. Another scratch to her wrist, but she nods her head.Jem locks up the apartment and Faith walks with her arm around the too-skinny teen for support. She dodges everything and everyone that walks near her, though the park isn't busy, they sit down on a bunch taking in the May flowers and air."They said it would get easier over time," Rilla says quietly which shocks both Jem and Faith., "it doesn't feel like that." ,"When I lost my mom, they said that same thing, really you just learn to live in a new way," Faith tells her. "I know it's not the same, and you know that everyone is here for you and only wants you to be well for lack of a better word, happier?""What does that sign mean?" She points to an old building that is part of the university."That's an old wing on campus, it's just an old Dalhousie logo. That one is part of engineering I think?" Jem says. "I think they still use it for things?"Rilla frowns, eyes narrowing further."What is it Rilla?" Faith asks her."He had that on a shirt," she says carefully. "I couldn't describe it, it was all so blurry. But that looks like it?""He was wearing it?" Faith says looking at Jem who was ready to pounce on someone they didn't even know."I think so?" Rilla says scratching at her arm once more getting up from the bench in a panic."Hey, hey, it will be alright," Jem jumps up"I want to go home, I want to go home," the teen cries."Okay, will head back to my place," Jem says trying to hug her but she pushes him away."Rilla, it's okay," Faith whispers. "Let's go back to the apartment and Jem will call your mom and dad okay?"Jem leads Rilla over to the couch, once they get back to his apartment, reaching for something only Faith really knows about as they wait for his parents. She wants to sleep, but he had another idea at the moment."You know I have a lot of tough days, between medical school and volunteering at the cancer ward. One of the old ladies there taught me how to knit though, so when I'm having a hard day, instead of drinking, I do this," Jem says showing her some knitted socks in crazy colours. Some of small and child-size, and some are for adults.Faith watches him go through the steps, he's patient with his sister who constantly breaks into a panic or tears as confused as she is about everything and not always listening to him.He knits for the NICU babies as well, not that he would tell that to Rilla any time soon, tiny little hats, that he will drop off every few months."Just keep knitting, don't worry about the pattern just yet," Jem tells her. "See it's easy and you have to have an ounce of concentration to do it properly,"When the Blythes come back they find Rilla still knitting, it's lopsided and has dropped stitches but it's kept her mind occupied."Was everything all right?" Anne asks kissing her son's cheeks."Yeah it was fine, can I talk to you for a moment out in the hall?" He looks over at Faith who is crocheting next to Rilla, who quietly nods her head."Of course," Dr. Blythe says still shocked to see his youngest knitting.Faith smiles at Rilla as the door shuts. "Why don't we pack up a few things for you?" Faith says to her. Jem had already told Rilla that she can take a few things home with her if she wanted to."Do you think any boy would ever want me?" Rilla asks quietly. "After all of this?""Of course, and if they truly love you and want to be with you, they'll do it on your terms," Faith tells her. "You've always been a sweet girl Rilla, this isn't the Victorian age. What happened doesn't ruin you.""But if you and Jem can't even figure it out, why would anyone ever want to be with me?""Rilla, Jem and I? We're different, we're good being friends. We care for each other deeply but it's just not like that for us." Faith tries to explain as the door opens."Ready to go Rilla?" Dr. Blythe says to her. Rilla nods her head standing up and taking the bag Faith hands her.The Blythe hug and kiss Faith as they do Jem before leaving with Rilla quietly trailing behind them."So, what are your plans for the weekend?" Faith asks Jem as they find themselves alone once more."Study?" Jem says absentmindedly. "You?""Your other sisters want to go out and I could use a good orgasm that doesn't involve well... batteries," Faith tells him honestly."You know I am taking that class about sexual response and nature of the humankind over the summertime?" Jem tells her."No, and you took a course on why we like sex?""It's interesting, breaks down all the mind and hormones, we had a choice of projects and one of them is to explore and write about a sexual experience?""You have a choice to rate someone's sex life or your own sex life?" Faith raises an eyebrow."It's a bit unorthodox, but it feels like a fun experiment," Jem says shrugging."Well, have fun then," Faith says to him patting his shoulder."Faith?" Jem says looking at her.Faith looks up at him, and see's that look on his face."Are you asking to sleep with me?" Faith looks at him."I am asking for help on an assignment, completely clinical and non-emotional night, or afternoon together." Jem shakes his head."You asking for me to sleep with you" Faith gives him a look."Only because you mentioned it yourself," Jem says."And afterwards?" Faith asks him curiously. "Wouldn't it just be easier to keep on knitting?""Funny, knitting is for stress relief and helping the hospital. Nothing would change, it's an experiment for class nothing more," Jem says with a shrug. "As I said clinical, non-emotional experiment.""Do I get to rate you?" Faith asks to lean in."Of course," Jem nods his head."Well, I suppose we both know each other is clean." Faith ponders for a moment."True," Jem says nodding. "Though it would have to be sober preferably?" He says carefully."Of course," Faith understands instantly that after Rilla, Jem was not taking chances. "And anytime either of us changes our minds, we stop. Withdrawal of consent is a line drawn and one we won't try and cross again.""Well then," Jem says clearing his throat as the phone goes off."Shit I have youth group tonight at the church, I have to go," Faith tells him before kissing his cheek and grabbing her sweater from the chair. "Want to come along, pizza and veggie tales?""Sure," Jem says nodding his head. "Let's go."Obviously, such an assignment would never be a real thing...but this fiction, and I think it will be fun to write about definitely fun to write!

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It takes longer than either of them realize to plan this sort of thing out."What's your schedule like? Jem defers to her over the kitchen table of the house she rents a room in as she packs the things up. Jem doesn't know exactly how he also got roped into this, but somehow he got roped into coming on a youth group camping trip."Well, I am also expecting Aunt Flo this week coming so that will not work," Faith tells him."I have a shift at the morgue, I rather not smell like death or vomit," Jem tells her."I work Friday afternoon, but suppose if I shave in the morning, I could be at your place after work?" Faith says."You don't have to shave for me," Jem tells her."I know, but I like to be kind." Faith teases him. "Thank you again for coming along, because you know the kids at Youth really enjoy your goofiness," Faith tells him."They're great kids," Jem says shrugging. "Though one of the church people said, it's great for them to have two role models for a godly couple," he tells her."Yeah, sorry about that, I have tried to tell them that we aren't anything, but then again we aren't exactly as innocent as we seem," Faith says with a laugh. "Either way nice to have another that is good with first aid and having someone other they myself is helpful. Maybe you can tell the boys that running around in poison ivy in their tightie whities isn't advisable?" Faith tells him.Jem grabs her boxes of marshmallows and other treats that she got for the kids and puts them in the back of his old truck before going back for Faith's bag.Jem doesn't know what to truly expect from youth group camping but it reminds him a bit of boy scouts in a way. Just had way more bible talk around the fire."Do you need help?" Jem asks as Faith tries to set up her tent but clearly something is missing from the setup as it is not supporting itself."I don't know what to do, or what went wrong?" Faith says sighing. She's wearing a hoodie and long jean shorts as she looks at her broken tent."So we can share mine, it's big enough for both of us?" Jem says shrugging."You can't share a tent! You're not married!" One of the children exclaims and Jem looks to Faith and the other adults."It would be wrong, and setting the wrong example," The pastor explains, now run along children, you have things to set up for yourself."Faith can bunk with me?" One woman on the trip says out loud. "My husband can bunk with her boyfriend.""It will be fine. I'll pretend to keep watch Faith can go in first. I'll wait a while and then hit the hay as well and I'll be up before they even wake up," Jem tells them. "If they ask to say we're engaged but we haven't told our parents yet so it hush- hush… and that an occasional night of a non-sexual sleepover is fine, I mean what if I snore? What if she snores!""I do not snore!" Faith exclaims indignantly."I'm sure you don't dear," Jem says smirking and Faith rolls her eyes."Just don't let the children see you then," The Pastor says sighing. "I expect you for couples counselling in the future for you.""I have three years of medical school to get through before we even think of actually getting to the marriage part," Jem says.The pastor just hums and shakes his head.Faith glares at Jem, in a serious sort of way. "Come on dear, you can pick your side of the tent?"Jem saw Faith Meredith in all sorts of bathing suits, from itty bitty bikinis to board shorts and splash guards paddle boarding. Today with a one-piece that was much—much sexier than it should be on her. High-necked, scooped back and full coverage everywhere it matters. It even had a small skirt on it and it was his favourite shade of blue with flowers on it, Where the former showed skin, this one showed curves."She's a beautiful woman," Someone says next to him, another church worker. "We all thought she was single, but apparently she isn't If you're around.""She beautiful on the inside as well, which is the most important thing," Jem says simply before reaching for his shirt and pulling it over his head. "Hey, kids who wants to be a cannonball!" He calls out.Eventually, they are called for dinner, and Faith takes to the tent first. Drying off and pulling on a hoodie and a pair of track pants that she likes to wear. She smiles at him coming out of the tent, holding the flap for him to go into afterwards.Dinner is hotdogs, of course, on sticks cut into spider dogs for the kids and all right him as well. They watch the kids carefully, making sure no one gets too close to the fire and does not ruin their dinner by burning it either. Burnt marshmallows were allowable, but hot dogs were a different situation."Do you get to cut people open in school?" One of the kids asks him eagerly."Sometimes, but really it's not all the fun," Jem says honestly. "Medical school is hard work, though I am sure it will be fulfilling when I am finished with it one day.""Most importantly he is learning to save people," Faith interjects. "Though if you ask real nicely you might get him to break out his guitar later tonight?" Faith grins.Jem groans. "You know I can't sing, why would you say that."Faith laughs one of her beautiful laughs. "No one is asking you to sing you goofball,"Jem feigns hurt, but knows that Faith has a beautiful voice, he knows this because he heard it for years. She never did choir, that was Una's thing, but if you stood close enough to her aisle you could hear the clear contralto voice, lower than anyone ever expected but still beautiful in its own way."Good, but also doesn't help I don't know any sort of church songs?" Jem says frowning."I'm sure you know some fun ones either way," Faith says smiling.Jem finds himself listening and watching Faith more than the children who are having run and running around with sticks and marshmallows."Puff the magic dragon, lived by the sea, frolicking in the autumn mists, in the land of Honah Lee," Faith sings after exhausting all the other songs Jem knows how to play. It's pure magic in her voice.He couldn't ruin this, he couldn't even ruin this? Maybe she would forget about his assignment if he never brought it up again."You know we never finished our conversation that day?" Faith tells say later in the dark of the night, in the tent that wasn't meant to be shared. Jem gulps looking up at what would be the sky in his sleeping bag."I suppose not," Jem says quietly after a moment."The next weekend after, we're both on the Island, though it is your birthday coming up," Faith says."You're okay with this all?" Jem says quietly."Why not? I mean I have the itch to scratch, and I just you? And clearly, you have one as well?" Faith said turning over to look at him. "What else are friends for?"Friends…right friends."Right, I mean…we can get a room somewhere, break into the old house of dreams as my mother calls it?" Jem says simply. "Or make use of the old tree house?""I am not having sex in a tree house with you," Faith hisses as she gives him a look. "Bad enough I let you kiss me in that thing when I was 15….God, please tell me you learned a thing or two since then…because my god that was horrible.""You know that I have," Jem says cooly under his breath, bringing up the forbidden topics they never talk about. "I mean we can avoid my actual birthday that's even more awkward and weird, but if we disappear for a few hours or at night no one will blink an eye about it?""Fair enough," Faith says turning on her side."Is there anything else to discuss?" Jem asks unsure if they were actually considering all of this craziness still."I am on the pill, so if anything happens we should be protected?" Faith tells him."Well, obviously barrier method as well, but good to know," Jem says nodding his head still wondering if this was even a good idea or not.

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Thank you for all the love and support on this one. I had a long two weeks, but finally got a chance to write this one out!The party was in full swing at Ingleside Faith concludes, everyone was there enjoying the full spread of what the Blythes had to offer for their son's twenty-third birthday. It was a small party, of course, just the Blythes, the Merediths and the Fords who were summering on the Island.Faith scans the crowds of people, Nan and Jerry were canoodling on the sofa. Laughing and cuddling, occasionally kissing as Jem tells some story. Di and Walter are sitting in a large chair, the redhead's legs over her brother who was intently watching his new-fangled phone. He must be seeing someone new.Shirley was chatting with Una who was animated over something or another Carl was showing Bruce (who was five) something at the dip table.She catches Jem's smile and smiles back, her eyes flicker to her Father and Rosemary, talking to the Blythes and the Fords. In the corner is Rilla Blythe, tucked away from the party as Kenneth Ford sat next to her showing her some sort of funny thing on his phone. She looks at him like he's a hero, he is only four years older than her. He was the twin's age after all, while Persis who was Rilla's age was busy on her own phone."You know if you read the shirt you owe the birthday boy a kiss," Jem says grinning as he stands there in his 'Kiss the birthday boy kiss'.Faith rolls her eyes at him. "Says who?""Well, the shirt," Jem says grinning cockily."Really, I didn't see Jerry kissing you earlier," Faith responds back."Fine then," Jem says before going over to his friend. "Sorry Nan but apparently Jerry has been called out" Without a thought or much warning he kisses Jerry firmly on the lips, for a split second before pulling away. Jerry sputters a bit and wipes his mouth."Seriously Jem!""Happy Faith!"He says jovially."Seriously," Nan huffs. "Next time I kiss Jerry it will be like kissing you."Jem mainly grins slinking back to Faith, wrapping his arm around her shoulders, musing her golden blonde tresses. Before tapping his cheek, which had a small amount of red stubble on it.Faith shakes her head, but stands on her tippy toes and kisses his cheek. "There you goofball," she tells him."Oi! No drinks for the minor," Jem calls out watching his youngest sister try to steal a drink.Faith looks around with curiosity, the house was fairly picked over these days. Of course, Gog and Magog are still in their rightful spots, but little things. The Blythes generally weren't overly picky about drinking before the age of nineteen. In certain circumstances and places at least, they also said they rather know where, and when and have the kids safe at home with a few drinks than at a party but clearly that changed lately. But given what she knew of the teen's mental state, and the medication she was on for it. Well, drinking probably wasn't the best thing for her anyway."Come on, I'll get you pop," she hears Ken tell Rilla. "Or I'll make you some fancy sort of fake drink." Even though he is careful not to touch her more than one naturally does but still holds out his hand for her. Still, Faith spies her wince when his hand comes in contact with her own.Someone passes Faith another drink, it's Rosemary who nudges her breaking her out of her thoughts. Faith smiles at her stepmother who wraps her arm around the younger woman's shoulder."You know he won't disappear if you just ask him for what you want," Rosemary says quietly. Faith blushes and tries to reiterate what she always says in these moments, that they were just friends.Faith watches Jem blow out the twenty-three candles on his cake, (she would be twenty-one in September) surrounded by friends and family happy and laughing.
Friends.
They were friends, the unbreakable sort of kind after so many years of knowing each other. He was there when she was twelve when her mother died, fourteen and awkward, when let he let her vent and cry about how her father was replacing her mother with Rosemary at fourteen. Later they danced at the wedding, him tall and suddenly filling out his suits while she was fifteen dressed up in a lilac purple silky gown with delicate beading over the straps and neckline, with a little jacket for the church. A prelude of prom, his prom anyway, where she re-wore the dress for practicalities sake, ditching the jacket and carefully remembering the thicker straps that had been added, for just the thinner beaded ones.She wanders Ingleside, memories springing around corners. Laughing through the hallways, ripped jeans and stolen sweaters. She goes up the stairs, towards their old hang-out, the garret. Still dusty, still the same old room filled with random chairs and sofas and a few desks. Outside the main window is the tree house, that first awkward kiss that had been half an experiment and half a goodbye one as he went to college without her at fifteen, when he was still seventeen.During the other years of high school, she kissed others occasionally. They had both dated and she took another to her own prom.She lived in the dorms that year and proudly invited him to the townhouse party, dress up as a sexy nurse of course. The drinks flowed and neither of them quite remembered how it happened, but they both agreed in the haze of the morning as they gathered up their clothing that maybe it was best to take things slow.Slow.Slow turned into them never approaching it again, because it was too awkward to talk about back then."Do you remember when we were all teens, and we would have sleepovers up here altogether?" Faith asks she hears the familiar footsteps as she looks around the old dusty garret of the house."Girls on one side, and boys on the other?" Jem answers knowingly from his spot on the floor with his can of beer."Jerry and Nan would also sneak towards each other," Faith says shaking his head before standing up and going over to one gable window. "Help me will you," she tells him as she fails to reach the rafter. "I wonder if it's still up here from that time?"Jem unfolds himself and stands ups to walk towards her. He lifts her up by the waist, hoisting her upwards. "You weigh a lot more than before," he grunts as she tries to find whatever she was looking for."Oh gee thanks," Faith says sarcastically. "Sorry I grew boobs.""I think your ass grew more," Jem said under his breath and tries to kick him and struggles enough that he loses his grip on her, as she loses her anchor and topples over Jem, knocking him to the floor,"What are you doing?" Comes from the doorway. Shirley held his own can of beer in his hand."Just looking for the old stash," Faith grins holding up a baggy. "I wonder if it ever goes bad?""Probably," Jem says shaking his head."I'll try it," Shirley says with a grin."Since when do you smoke?" Jem looks at his little brother."I'm a freshman in college," Shirley gives him a look. "Who lives in the dorms, just because it is illegal, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Clearly…" he says rolling his eyes."It's pretty much dust," Faith concludes. "I can't believe no one ever found it.""I don't think my parents were ever looking for it," Jem says shrugging. "Not like we ever did when they were home. is the other munchie stash still up there?""I didn't see it, and I really am the epitome of a secretly wild preacher's daughter," Faith says laughing, and she catches Jem's gaze. They hold it for a moment before both bursting out laughing."Well, you're both drunk," Shirley says shaking his head. "I am going to find out where mom and dad put the dart board in the basement.""We'll be down in a bit," Jem tells his brother."Well, if you're up here for a quickie, I'd suggest looking at the dates of the condoms. Probably a bit old by now," Shirley says grinning. "God forbid, we have another Jem running around."Faith rolls her eyes when Jem throws an old slipper at his younger brother."So," Faith says breaking into the silence. "About that whole thing?" She asks wondering how crazy she is for going along with it."I got us a room in the city," Jem says, his voice in a low whisper, and for a moment Faith's heart flutters."Oh, perfect," Faith says shaking off the patterings of her heart. "For the day we're supposed to go back?""Yeah, that way it doesn't look too dodgy?" Jem says nodding his head."I was thinking," Faith begins, trying to brush off her feelings and her shyness. If he wasn't backing out on it yet and booked a room, why was she worried? "If we are rating or comparing, should we not compare between the barrier and non-barrier sex? You know put some weight into this assignment?" Faith says trying to sound confident."You wish to have sex twice, once unprotected?" Jem clarifies, voice going higher than normal."Why not if it gives you better data? I mean I'm on the pill?" Faith says with a shrug. Make it look like it wasn't anything crazy. "If we have the room, all night and check out, is what 11 am or we can wait a few days if you need it?""We could wait 15 minutes? I'm twenty-three, not forty," Jem reminds her. "Work in that revival time?""Or that," Faith says rolling her eyes. "If we're both okay with it anyway?"

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Welcome to chapter seven. There will be a rating shift for this one, but I think I teased you long enough...especially since this was only supposed to be 3 chapters. Laugh all you want Alinya, I can admit that this ran away with me lol."Faith and I are getting a hotel room tonight," Jem says to Jerry as he sits down next to the other man as they look out towards the ocean."Okay?" Jerry says confused."I needed a partner for an assignment for summer school, so I asked her to sleep with me," Jem says casually.It takes a moment to register in the other man's head before he sputters as he suddenly pulls his words together."Seriously why can't you just be normal and ask her out? Also, I really don't need to know what you or my sister do in denial you both have.""We're not in denial," Jem scuffs. "This is for last Christmas, I share a wall with Nan back at home and I heard it all," Jem reminds him."That is entirely different," Jerry points out. "At least I am properly in a relationship with Nan, but you do you, god knows what will happen after this. Maybe it will finally knock some sense into you both.""Why can't we just be good friends," Jem rebuttals."Because good friends don't sleep over and steal your bloody tee -shirt the next morning," Jerry groans at his friend. As if he noticed his sister wearing much too-large shirts more than once."It's not stealing if I get them back," Jem points out, leaving out the fact he likes when Faith steals his shirts, he likes seeing her in his shirts especially when other guys flirt with her not knowing she's in his shirt."You are impossible," Jerry says and Jem just shrugs."Thank you," Jem says grinning."Well, just don't get her pregnant, last thing we need is a shotgun wedding," Jerry says standing up."I can say the same about you and Nan." Jem counters back standing back up. "This was just a courtesy because you are my friend, I wasn't asking permission.""Faith's her own person, if you did she would probably raise a ruckus about it," Jerry tells him standing up next to his friend. "I have to go pick up Nan, also I don't want to know about it or the outcome. So please spare me."Jem nods his head, they walk in silence back to the old house on the Island and Faith is already there waiting for him."There you are," Faith says eying her brother who goes reaching for Nan. "Ready to go?""Yeah, I was just stretching my legs for a moment," Jem says nodding his head."Well, call us when you get home," Anne says kissing Jem's cheek, "Can't believe my baby is twenty-three, and not so much a baby these days.."Faith laughs. "Oh still very much like a baby at times," she tells Anne Blythe."Take care of him, text me if he gets too engrossed with school," Anne moves to hug Faith."You tattle to my mother about my studying!" Jem says looking at Faith."Of course not, " Faith pats his shoulder but grins at Anne. "Come on we need to hit the road.""Of course, drive safe and don't speed," his mother frets. "Rilla dear, come to say goodbye to your brother," she calls out to her youngest who comes slinking out of the living room."Call me if you ever need to talk," Jem carefully hugging her, and Faith does the same."Same Rilla, you can always call me as well," Faith tells her quietly.It felt like the awkwardness intensified with every moment and step they took. Jem checked them into the room as she waited back on a bench."There's even free breakfast," Jem says taking the bag that was beside her. "They even have those make-your-own pancake machines, I always wanted to try that thing. But then nothing really lives up to mum buttermilk pancakes. But it also looks like there are Froot Loops for you.""Of course there is, also do you ever not think of food?" Faith says shaking her head. "I can carry my own bag.""I know, but you shouldn't have to," Jem says shrugging. "And of course, boobs and sex have a fairly high chance to beat out food," he grins and Faith groans.They use the elevator to the third floor, hearts thumping. He leads her down the hall, and then through the door. He opens it for them and lets her go in first before he kicks off his shoes and puts the bags on the floor."I thought we could get dinner first?" Jem says. "They have that place that overlooks the harbour.""Don't spend all of your money on me—this Jem," Faith tells him frowning thinking just how much this place probably cost already."It's nothing," Jem waves off the cost of the room."At least let me pay for dinner then?" Faith tells him thinking about the money she had in her bank account, it wasn't much but she could afford dinner. Pay day was soon enough?"Never," Jem says shaking his head, this was his whole thing, his assignment.They end up on the patio overlooking the harbour, the sea breeze lightly blowing around them. Dinner plates are pushed away as he watches her dark golden hair blowing in the wind."So…" Faith says looking around the room. "How does this work?""Well, generally speaking, when a man and a woman…" Jem starts before faith swats at him."I know how sex works Jem, it's not my first rodeo," She rolls her eyes. "That is not what I meant.""Okay okay, sorry," Jem says."I'm just wondering how this works. Do we just jump into it? Do you want to shower and put on pyjamas or do we just I don't know go for it? Do we watch a movie first, or do we go for a swim in the pool? I know we agreed on no drinking, but do we get a drink at the bar to just take the edge off?""You are thinking way too much," Jem shakes his head. "Relax.""What's the safe word again?" Faith asks him shaking her head."Dandelion," Jem tells her, taking her hands into his. "Now relax, or I'll leave you alone all night and you can be responsible for your own orgasm." His voice dips lows into a whisper so others around them won't hear him as clearly."I usually am anyway so what's the difference?" Faith reminds him with a look. "We need some sort of plan Jem?""Alright, we go back to the hotel, freshen up a bit if we need to and then we start slow?" Jem says. "We kiss, break the ice and just go with the flow of things?"Faith nods her head, still slightly anxious.The walk back is quiet but he holds her hand as he always has done. Maybe this time it's a touch more flirty, more playful as they walk back towards the hotel. Once inside she uses the washroom as he leaves to get some ice and water for their room. She's still in her shorts and ribbed tank top when he comes back into the room. He puts the ice bucket on the table and back, before stepping into the washroom himself. It takes a good moment before either of them muck up any sort of courage to step closer to the other.The first kiss was hesitant, tender and rather wholesome. Standing in the middle of the room, away from the bed, as they could. Eyes shut, and hearts pounding in their chest, it throws him back into the past, the feeling hasn't changed. It just laid dormant in the back of his mind, maybe it's more refined, maybe her lips are softer?The second kiss is more powerful, needier more experimental. Mouths opened, and tongues snaked around the others. Strong hands gripped her hips, with her smaller ones gripped his shoulders, folding around the back of his neck.Don't think, just feel, Jem tells himself. Don't think too much though….Faith is the one who reaches for his shirt first, hands sneaking underneath the hem before tugging at it. She's seen in shirtless numerous times, but she has never been the one to undress him before.She's not wearing a bra, he realizes as he trails his hands down her back. She tickles around her ribs as she tries not to giggle as he traces down, then up underneath her shirt. His hands tap lightly over the edges of her breasts she breathes in deeply."Did you forgo the bra for comfort or for ease of access?" Jem comments, his thumb brushing over her pert nipple."Hmm, it was more so you don't get confused with the clasps again," Faith says with a long sigh."Not funny," he says under his breath."It was to me," Faith grins.He peels off her shirt, slowly over her head, her breasts swaying slightly with the movement, her creamy skin with rosy tan nipples, crinkling in anxious anticipation. He palms one, while he kisses down her neck and clavicle until his wet tongue draws circles around the sensitive peak. He can feel her breath hitch, he can feel her heartbeat quicken."James," Faith breathes out.He breaks his suction from her skin. "No one is allowed to call me that.""I am though," Faith tells him with a grin. "James," she says for good measure, hand trailing down the front of his pants. Jem groans pushing himself against her hand, "Good to know that you can rise to the occasion, James" she teases him."You doubted my abilities?" Jem cocks an eyebrow. "Or you doubted my reaction to a naked beautiful woman in front of me?""You think I'm beautiful?""Well duh," Jem says. "Among other things of course," He says gruffly as she feels her squeeze him."Cecelia," he breathes out with a smug grin on his face. A closely guarded secret of her own that only a few actually knew about, or were allowed to even call her."There is an extreme difference between me calling you James, and you using that name," Faith tells him. "Your name is not the same as your dead mother's.""It's beautiful though," Jem tells her through a kiss."Just keep focus goofball, or I'll dock you marks," Faith warns him.They end up on the bed after what feels like an eternity, shorts pushed from their hips before they settle against the pillows. Her hands travel down his chest, fingers making their way through the course curls that were scattered over it. His own hands followed suit. Palming and massaging the orbs that fit almost perfectly under his, before following the slope of her waist, and the curve of her hips. Over her panties, he can hear her breath change with anticipation. He cups her smiling at the damp cotton, applying pressure at his fingertips until she squirmed beneath him."More," Faith tells him."More what?" He asks grinning. "Use your words.""Don't be such a tease Jem Blythe," Faith tells him, "unless you want to be teased back," she warns him as she grasps him without warning and gives him a good pump.He takes that encouragement as it comes, trying to ignore the throbbing of his cock, he tries to think of other things, and he tries not to remember how long it's been since he had any sexual contact with another….there was another once the year before. A classmate, but it only lasted a few times.He pushes aside the gusset of her panties, sinking his fingers into the warm wetness that was her own. It doesn't take him long before he finds her clit, watching as her eyes close, her head falls back into the pillows as he rubs around and over it."Fuck," Faith curses as she feels lightning bolts run through her body."Language," he chuckles stealing a kiss."Fuck you," Faith growls at him."You will be," Jem reminds her as he dips his head low and catches her round perky nipple in his mouth. He's harder than he thought possible as his groin aches considerably.He almost loses it when he feels her hand slip underneath the waistband of his boxersWhatever anxiety, whatever worries they had faded into the shadows of the room. They knew each other in ways that others could never understand. A mixture of sloppy wet kisses and slow and languid ones. Their bodies burn with that undeniable pleasure.He pulls her panties down slowly, helping her kick them off and toss them off the bed. Hand gripping her waist and hips."Can I?" Jem questions as he kisses down her stomach. He can smell her and it was driving him insane."If you think I'm turning down that…." Faith doesn't even get to finish her response as she sucks in a breath caught by surprise. Jem chuckles, letting the vibrations work their own magic against her.He uses his tongue in devilish ways, licking and twirling until she writhing under his administration. He holds her hips down as the rock into his face, and images of the past fly into his mind. She tastes unlike anything he's had before and it sends his penis twitching.She cries out as she rides the waves of her orgasm, trying to push away from him to let her have moments of peace at his mercy."Fuck," is all that Faith manages to say."What can I say I'm a gentleman," Jem grins and Faith raises her eyebrow as she pants. "A lady always comes first," he adds on with a smirk this time.Faith only shakes her head, hand reaching for his pushed-down underwear at this point, running her hands down his shaft and then around his balls. Jolts of electricity run down his back and through his groin."Old fashioned or on top?" Jem asks making haste for the box of condoms he tossed not the nightstand."But…" Faith says brow furrowing. "I haven't?""If you want this to last more than thirty seconds…I suggest we skip over that," Jem says his voice cracking slightly as he tries not to come in her hand as she still working for her hand over it up, twisting and down motion. She almost drops the motion immediately."Sorry!" She says apologetically."I'm sorry for apparently having the willpower of a fifteen-year-old," Jem says shaking his head as he tries to open the foil package. Faith takes it from him, motioning for him to take her spot. She opens the package as he flips himself over and she smirks as bends forwards and kisses the tip of it, tongue swirling, but keeps to the task at hand as she rolls the rubber over him.She settles on top of him, golden hair hanging around her shoulders. It is like slow motion, he holds himself as she guides herself onto him. It's bliss and ignorance all at once, how does one forget this feeling? He feels her settle around him, hugging him in a way that only these sorts of situations can do.She rocks her hips, experimentally at first and he can't help but watch himself disappear inside of her again and again as she sets a rhythm for them. Soon he can't figure out where to look, between her bouncing breasts, slim waist and the shadows on her face."Come for me," Faith leans forward, whispering in his ear and he takes whatever strength he has in him and flips them, grabbing her hips so they are around his. Its erratic and sweat beads on his forehead as he thrusts over and over into her until he finally feels himself erupt."So…" Faith says afterwards. "Thanks for the mind-blowing sex. I think you hit my cervix by the way, and that is not a nice feeling.""I'll keep that in mind," Jem says coughing out a laugh. He kicks up a leg to finally kick off the half-on underwear. "Thirsty?""A bit yeah," Faith nods her head.Jem was half off the bed when he feels gas escaping him as he moves his legs around"Seriously Jem!" Faith scoffs and throws a pillow at him."Sorry! It was an accident!" Jem rushes in."Sure it was," Faith rolls her eyes. "It's always an accident with you.""Oh like you have never farted in front of me before?" He says turning around, hands on the bed as he was going to crawl over to her to pounce on her."I am a lady," Faith reminds him."Oh of course, so all those movie nights, or sleepovers in my bed when you were sleeping were my imagination. Also, weren't you swearing every five minutes," Jem says grinning like the Cheshire Cat. "So definitely more like a sailor.""I thought you were getting us something to drink?" Faith reminds him."Fine fine," Jem says going over for the water and handing it to her and they both sit there on the bed in a strange comfortable way."You know you should probably get that mole checked out by the way," Faith tells him after a moment and a long drink."Which one?" Jem asks looking over his chest and trying to look at his shoulders for the few that he has there as well. "You know, I may be Moley...but moles do love holes...""Jem!" Faith exclaims. "Seriously be serious for once in your life." she swats at him and he catches her hand, wrapping it in his own and they stare at each other, still naked, still fighting the hormones coursing through their bodies.

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“I need to pee,” Faith blurts out. Jem nods moving out of the way a look of concern on his face as she hops to the bathroom and shuts the door.

A long look in the mirror. This shouldn’t be this terrifying.

“You’re nervous because you’re in love with him,” she says to her reflection.

“Faith?” She hears him call out and she panics flushes the toilet and turns on the water to fake wash her hands.

“Don’t be such a dork, you can do this, this was your idea,” she says quietly to herself.

He’s sitting on the bed with his underwear on when she comes back out.

“What are you doing?” Faith questions him

“Well, clearly this isn’t working out, I mean it was a great idea but clearly it crosses some sort of line,” Jem tells her.

“Honestly it’s all good,” Faith says shaking her head. “Just a bit of preacher daughters guilt,
Nothing to do with you or us:”

“You were shaking,” Jem shakes his head.

“Jem, it’s fine, please, I just psyched myself out for a moment,” Faith tells him. Reaching for his hair, running her fingers through the wild curls. Standing in front of him, still naked. “I know what I’m doing, what we’re doing by doing this. We’re both scared of this and we both know why.”

“And why’s that?” Jem says gruffly. Trying to look her in the eyes and not anywhere else.

“It means actually sitting down and talking about us and if we do that it will ruin everything. So let’s just toss it all out the window and just feel and not think.” Faith says quietly biting her lip.
 Faith wakes up with a jolt and something shaking her shoulder.“Hey, it’s okay you’re safe,” She hears Jem's voice through the fog of her brain.She was still naked, they must have fallen asleep.“Sorry,” she says frowning. “It’s been a while since I had a dream like that,” she says. Ever…but he doesn’t need to know.“You’re a mom?” Jem says quietly thinking back to all that turmoil she raged about when she was younger. “I’m sorry I shouldn’t have called you that.”“It’s fine Jem, it was just a strange dream,” Faith says shaking her head and sitting up in the bed, in his tee shirt again. It was early still, and the sun wasn’t even up. They hadn’t exactly planned on a plan after the first time around.But it was like electricity, or something magnetic that made drew them together.It oddly felt like the most normal thing to do, kissing as they did, touching each other as they did.This time around Faith tries to make it more about him, she kisses over the stubble on his jawline and down his neck biting it lightly She is still fogged by sleep as she’s seated on his lap, still naked from before. She teases him at first, grinding against him, sliding over his hardening dick.She watches him through half-closed eyes as she shimmies down his legs with a wiggle kissing down his stomach. She plays him, feeling him twitch and grow hard with each pass of her hand. This time it’s not a tease, as she encloses over him, letting her lips and tongue twirl around. She can taste herself on him, which doesn’t bother her she finds out quickly.She bobs her head, using her hand in coordination, his low groans and his hand's flex are a mood around them. She cups his balls in her hands, letting her saliva drip from her lips as she lets go of him as he taps on her shoulder.He reaches for her, pulling her closer, sliding her body against his. He peels his shirt from her body, his hand leaving tingles over her body in the cool air of the air conditioner that was still on.“We don’t have to do this,” Jem reminds her.“I know, but I’m curious,” Faith tells him honestly. “I’ve never been with someone long enough to ever get to this stage.”“Neither have I,” Jem admits. “I mean medical school will scare you enough from the idea of unprotected sex without thinking it through. Even more than my father when I was fourteen.” Jem says still very much aware of how close they were and about to get.“Not to mention never been with someone I have trusted this much as I trust you right now,” Faith tells him.“You trust me that much?” Jem says with a touch of shock.“Of course I do,” Faith says reaching and caressing the side of his face.She shook slightly, nerves getting the better of her.“We can stop anytime,” Jem reminds her.“I’m okay if you are,” Faith says shaking her head. “You may just have to take some of the lead on this one.”Jem nods his head and manages to roll to the other side of the bed. Why did it feel like they were defying every sort of sex-ed conversation they ever had? Sex is best for marriage, well that one didn’t work out. Not necessarily with each other, but it happened. Don’t be stupid and drink and fool around….that happened as well. Don’t have sex, especially unprotected sex unless you are ready for the consequences.Better yet save unprotected sex for marriage, If you’re going to have sex, save that for someone special if you can.How could such a thing be any less or more special? It’s all semantics but that is what growing as a preacher's daughter has told her. In the walls of the old manse, father and Rosemary who was a music teacher knew teenagers would make their own choices.Her heartbeat is racing, faster than last time, why is it different this time? It’s shouldn’t be,Why do his hazel eyes look like they do as they try to read her mind? Both naked, both incredibly close.It happens unbearably slowly with their bodies both shaking internally. It doesn’t feel all that different but it does at the same time. There is something natural, and out of this world about the whole moment. It’s intimate, much more intimate than she ever imagined or considered it could be.“Fuck you feel amazing,” he groans, grabbing her leg and holding it, trying to throw it over his shoulder, but it lands more in the crook of his arm. It works but also changes the depth and angle and he hits something deep inside her that makes her bodyHer back arches and her hips move to accommodate him more, hands gripping his shoulders. His hair falls into his face and hers as he tries to kiss her.He lasts longer this time, which is not totally unsurprising since it's only been a few hours. Really how long did it take him to even recuperate? She’s flung out of her thoughts as she feels his hand wrap around her leg, reaching between them and his thumb working its magic.She feels another orgasm build up quickly, her head flipping back and forth on the pillow as she can’t concentrate on anything but what he’s doing. She cries out his name more than once.“Come for me, love, I’m going to…” she hears but barely comprehends.She feels her body explode, as her toes curls and her whole torso arches and tightens. She squeezes him and tries to hold him still because any sort of movement sent jolts over her body. The whole combination must have worked magic as Jem grunts and stills above her. She doesn’t feel anything, but then again when were romance books ever right? “This is going to ruin sex forever,” Faith says sighing afterwards.“Yep, I can see that,” Jem says nodding his head still catching his breath and kissing the top of her head. “Honestly didn’t think it would feel that different.”“Neither did I,” Faith agrees with him. She doesn’t say much as she crawls off the bed and picks up the first thing she could find his shirt.She rushes towards the washroom and cleans herself up and uses the toilet because one always pee’s after sex.She looks in the mirror her hair was the epitome, the classic text-book idea of sex hair, she as prickles of a rash on her neck from various rounds of kissing and nuzzling from Jem’s stubble. Her golden eyes were bright, She runs a hand down her stomach, stopping at the junction between her hips and thighs.“You okay in there?”Jem says quietly knocking.“Yeah,” Faith says quickly flushing the toilet and pulling on the shirt she took from the floor, it falls halfway down her thighs because he’s taller than her.The bed is rumpled, and Jem is in his underwear once more. She looks at him, blushing slightly as everything runs through her head.“Are you okay?” Jem asks her holding out the water bottle to her one more.“Oh yeah,” Faith says nodding her head. “I mean a bit of the whole rebel preacher's daughter thing is running wild in my head but that's normal enough.”“Is it that weird at times for you?” Jem asks sitting down on the bed.Faith merely shrugs. “It used to be worse, but I know he just wants us kids to be happy. I mean it’s not like we were ever 7th heaven sort of family.”“Do you want to sleep some more?” He asks looking at the time, it wasn’t even five am yet. Faith nods her head. Yawning, she crawls back into bed, she can still feel him slowly leaking out of her body. No matter how much she tried to clean herself up.He wraps his arm around her, breathing in the scent of her hair it seems. It lulls her to sleep to the point she's not sure who says it, or if it was even real or not. “Do you ever wonder if that could be just it?” She hears in a sleepy daze. “That everything you’re looking for is just already right in front of you?”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

They fall back into a routine rather easily. They don't talk about it, they don't mention it. It was like after that room closed behind them it was behind them. The only thing that was proof was the document she sent him almost two weeks later. Labelled at assignment, a very to-point, practical email. No jokes inside, it was like she mailing it to her teacher and not him. He doesn't even read it, not her private thoughts at least. He does smile cheekily at the questionnaire though.
Highly enjoyable

Still slightly sloppy at kissing, but has gotten better.

Considerate and a gentleman

Vocal about choices and consent

Maintains to be amusing( Something extremely valuable to this person)

Did fart after sex….might have to dock points for that though.

Does a great post-cuddle session
His own was similar and rather hard to come up with. He sat at his computer for hours, trying to be accurate and non-emotional about it all even if they leaked through with each other rewrite of the document.
Absolutely beautiful,

Playful and respectful

Rather flexible and responsive to touch

Not afraid to be vocal

Always willing to return the favour,

Did call me by my actual name( neither of us goes by our technical legal names to each other)
When he finally sent in the assignment he sighed. Faith was complaining about her summer cold that one of the kids from the youth group gave her, but also how they were asking about him. The kids, not the adult she clarified.He offered to pick her up some groceries when at the store but she told him that she was fine. She only went from lady aches to a cold. She would survive.Cramps.Well, that put all that right, Faith had no issues telling him about the monthly doom her body went through. This time it was different, she waited until it was over to even mention it.Not that he was watching the days, beginning to wonder and possibly worry that something had happened.But it had appeared and he could breathe easier in the back of his mind."So you and Faith?" Nan says looking at her brother, she was drinking her iced coffee as she sat down on his chair."How do you!—," Jem turns on his heel to look at his sister. "Jerry?""Of course, we tell each other everything," Nan says simply with a smile."Well, then you also know that it was just an experiment so to speak and it changes nothing between us," Jem says going back to chopping up the vegetables."Have you spoken to her since?' Nan asks him."Of course I have, we speak every day," Jem says rather put out. "Having sex doesn't change our friendship.""Well, it should," Nan huffs. "Or you bigger idiots than I then I thought you were, both of you. Also, what are you making?""Soup, what else does it look like, also consensual sex can be absolutely fine and healthy and doesn't make us idiots Nan," Jem rolls his eyes."It does when you clearly are in love with her!" Nan huffs."Whatever my feelings are or maybe doesn't make me an idiot," Jem says. "So unless you actually have a reason to be here that is not insulting me, I will rescind my invitation," Jem warns his sister."Jeez, such a stick in the mud," Nan says shaking her head and standing up. "Fine, I'll go then. I have to go to work soon anyway.""So really you just came to annoy me?" Jem says turning around."I came thinking you finally got a clue," Nan tells him. "That and if you haven't talked to Mom and Dad you should give them a call.""About what?" Jem says hurriedly. Looking at his cell phone, he didn't miss a call."Rilla, if you call they'll explain. She's okay so don't go panicking," Nan tells him. "I was talking to Mum earlier which is how I heard."Jem nods his head."So no roommate this yet?" Nan asks looking around."They should be back in a few weeks," Jem tells her. ""Should have just had Faith move in," Nan says under her breath."Funny because I would think you know exactly how Mr. Meredith feels about his children living with the opposite sex before they are engaged." Jem gives her a pointed look.Nan scrunches up her nose and sticks out her tongue at her brother."Makes no bloody sense, we can bump like bunnies, but living together is out of the question." Nan groans. As if she had this discussion with Jerry before and got nowhere with it. "And Jerry won't propose until I am graduated and out of school.""Good," Jem says not exactly liking the idea of his younger sister getting engaged for the sake of living with her boyfriend. "Plus who would Di live with if you were living with Jerry, she would light the place on fire. Girl can't even make toast without burning it."Nan reluctantly laughs and shakes her head. "Don't forget the bay leaf, Marilla will never tell you to add it, but she always does.""You noticed that as well," Jem says shaking his head.He brings over a container of soup because that's what you do when your friends are sick. She was on the sofa, nose red and hair a mess.When she asks him what he was doing there in her doorway, she is scratching and hoarse. A little summer cold indeed. He shakes his head.He heats up the soup and watches her eat it slowly."Stop staring at me," Faith moans."Just making sure you don't choke," Jem says shrugging. "Where's your landlady?""At her son's place for two weeks," Faith tells him.Jem frowns, not liking the idea of her being alone."I'm 20 years old, I can be sick and stay by myself," Faith tells him sharply. "Don't try to tell me that you weren't thinking that. You had that look on your face.""I was thinking no such thing," Jem says shaking his head. "If you are thinking that you must have a fever?" He says reaching for her forehead."I'm not that sick," Faith swats him away and gets up from the table slowly to her room and grabbed her toiletries.He stays the night anyway, he sleeps on the sofa but only dozes. He is there with more medicine for Faith in the wee hours of the morning as she coughs from her post-nasal drip tickling her throat. Then in the morning, he makes her milky and watery oatmeal on the old hob in the kitchen. With tea that had a good dollop of honey in it."I need a shower, I feel gross," Faith says out loud."You had a fever most of the night," Jem says nodding his head. "Need help?""Do I need help in the shower?" Faith looks at him. "I think I will manage," She says shaking her head, before sniffling loudly.Jem merely shrugs. "Really it's not like I haven't seen you naked, or naked people in school."Faith just shakes her head and stands up slowly. "What happens when you get sick from being here?""Well, I hope that you make sure that I don't die of dehydration," Jem jokes.He does up the dishes and takes out the overflowing garbage of tissues for her. He can hear the water run, but it's not the shower. She must have settled on a bath."Jem?" He hears his name being called out, he walks quietly to the door and opens it just a crack."Yes?" He asks not looking in the mirror that reflects into the tub."Can you get a pitcher from under the sink so I can wash my hair without having to do the usual?" Faith asks him.Jem nods his head. He steps in and crouches down, opening the cabinet. Old cleaning supplies, a box of tampons, a hair dryer and spare toilet paper, and a plastic pitcher that looked like an old bath salt container.She curled up in the tub, her knees to her chest. He hands her the pitcher, placing it on the edge of the bathtub. The steam makes her breathing more even, but sweat beads off her forehead.She grasps his arm with a clammy one, asking him to stay.He kneels beside the tub, taking in the curve of her back, her shoulder blades that were covered with damp hair. He fills up the pitcher and she leans her head back. He helps wash her hair.Parts of his mind don't know what is more intimate anymore because sex can be sex, but this is something else entirely.He ends up helping her out of the tub, keeping up eye contact as one does and not in the other places of her body. She wraps the towel around her body and blots her hair before going over to her room.Fresh pyjamas and socks when she comes back out, he motions to sit on the pillow in front o him, already having her hairbrush and comb."Rilla's going to spend the school year in Toronto apparently," Jem says as he brushes through the tangles of her hair."Is she?" Faith says surprised, still nasally. "Why?""She says the island is just a reminder of what happened. The Fords have a decent house outside of the city with a few horses and offered her a room when mom was telling Aunt Leslie about it, and there's a good school around them that is oddly enough all girls?" Jem explains as he parts her hair down the middle."It might be good for her, it can't be easy knowing what happened is just a drive away," Faith says hoarsely nodding her head."I'm just worried she'll just get more attached to Ken, he's in college and older than her. Don't get me wrong I appreciate everything he's done since he found her, but she's seventeen and I don't want her to get hurt more if he brings other girls home?" Jem says sighing as he braids carefully down the side of her head, picking up hair with each twist."I'm sure she knows he's just a friend," Faith tells him, reaching and squeezing his calf that was beside her. "Did you hear anything back from your teacher?"Jem laughs leaning back on the couch as he braids the tail end of the hair before tying it off. "Apparently I am the first student of his that actually was bold enough for that assignment. It was always there for more a joke than anything else.""Seriously?" Faith looks at him not sure if she was surprised or annoyed."Oh, we still got all the marks. Though he did ask if I read what your final conclusion was," Jem tells her. "I said of course not that was supposed to be confidential to the assignment.""What did he say after that?" Faith finds herself asking curiously."He told me I was an idiot?" Jem tells her and Faith laughs hard enough that she coughs and wheezes.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“I need you to pretend to be my boyfriend when you meet me for studying,” Faith texts quickly.
Huh?

“Someone is not taking the hint that I am not interested in him whatsoever….and I don’t know look tall when you do show up?!”
 Faith sighs as she tries to brush off the person who could not take a hint. Angela and Clara were little help with it, thinking she should just go out with the poor guy. He was cute after all, to them anyway."Why don't we go out and get coffee and study a bit tonight," The guy asks her trying to get her number and her attention once again. "I can't," Faith says trying to be polite.  "I already promised Jem I would help him study tonight," She tells him. "Well it can be this weekend, or really any time," the guy retorts. "I'm always free." "I really don't think--"Faith begins before she hears. “Sweetie,” Faith hears first as the familiar cologne and voice tell her that Jem has finally arrived. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere, I thought we were meeting at the library,” Jem says kissing her cheek and wrapping his arms around her waist, standing behind her. She didn’t say this!Angela and Clare are a bit mistaken as Jem Blythe is kissing their friend….but also Jem Blythe is a medical student, tall and hot.“Jem Blythe are you in class with Faithie?” Jem asked singling out the one guy who was still around them.Faithie? Seriously they weren’t five?“David,” the guy looks them over but still smiles rather smugly.“I didn’t realize there were any males in this year's class of fourth-year nursing, I mean most of them either drop out or finally get into medical school.” Jem baits him lightly with a grin.“Jem, not everyone can get into medical school on their first try like you,” Faith reminds him.“You’re in medical school?” David says not believing him apparently.“Second year,” Jem grins. “Faith and I plan on opening our own practice one day, don’t we? Registered Nurse and a Doctor team, it will be perfect.”"Still not entirely sure I want to work with you and live with you," Faith says slightly rolling her eyes. "Well at some point you'll be at home with the kids anyway," Jem says grinning and Faith looks up and gives him look. It's another few minutes before the classmate finally leaves, even Angela and Clara also depart and Faith finally lets go of the breath she was holding. “Thank god, thank you I am so sorry but he does not get the hint. I kept telling him I wasn’t interested and he wouldn’t take no for an answer.” Faith tells him as they walk towards the courtyard between the two schools. Jem nods his head. “No problem, what I’m here for?” he shrugs. “Do you want me to frighten him a bit more?”“Don’t jeopardize your class standing Jem, I think he’ll leave me alone now seeing that you’re actually real.” Faith says shaking her head.“Either way might as well make it look real,” Jem says leaning in closer. “He still watching is from afar.” He grabs her hand.“Alright, shall we head to the library then,” Faith says sighing. “I can’t believe how much homework we already have.” She groans.“Try being in medical school, we had homework on the first day,” Jem tells her grabbing her books from her.“Why did we choose the medical profession as a career?” Faith groans.“Because we like helping people,” Jem says. “Or in my case, I wanted to make my father proud?”“Your dad would be proud if you were an art teacher,” Faith tells him, alluding to his secret talent of drawing and sketching.“I know, but the pay will be better,” Jem says grinningFaith groans theatrically and steps in front of him. “Money isn’t everything mister,” she says hands on her hips.“I know, but it helps greatly,” Jem grins before leaning down and kissing her quickly. “He was watching,” he says quickly, a red flush growing over his cheeks.“Sure,” Faith says under her breath but tried not to let any awkwardness seep through. “We still good for the movies this weekend?” She asks to begin to walk once more.“Oh yeah already bought the candy for it,” Jem says, nodding.Faith nods her head, the week has been busy for both of them, their schedules were packed and they didn’t have a lot of time these days to hang out if the first week was already impacting things.“I still can’t believe you’re still trying to work on the weekends?” Faith asks him. It really feels like forever since she saw hide or hair from him.“I want to, but honestly given the workload I don’t think it’s plausible with each passing week. I mean I saved a bunch over the summer and Mom and Dad signed the student line of credit for me and whatnot again.”Faith nods her head, she had her loans but was in the same boat. Studying and classes and clinical take up most of her time. The fact that they managed to squeeze in a movie this weekend to just take a break from studying was a miracle.“I mean it’s still all classroom and I don’t have class on weekends but the sheer amount of studying and work I have is just insane, trying to work on top of that? It would be suicidal,” Jem says sighing.They settle in at the library across from each other at the table, it’s quiet and they read, write and study well. How many weeks has it been since the day she was sick?“You feeling okay, you keep flushing, not getting sick again are you?” Jem asks her after the third time his mind wanders.“Yeah,” Faith says nodding her head. “I’m gonna run to the washroom,” she tells him.She takes her purse, walks to the nearest ladies' room, and sighs against the sink.“Snap out of it Meredith,” Faith tells herself.  “So why did Alice Parker see you and Jem out at the pier the night you were supposed to be in Nova Scotia in the summer?” Una asks her sister while on the phone. Faith was getting ready for Jem to take them to the movies and was making sure she had everything, or she was until her sister turned the tables and asked what she asked. ‘What are you talking about?” Faith sputters in shock.“I ran into Alice Parker at school today, and she told me that she saw you and Jem having dinner at the pier back in the summer, and she swore she saw go back to the hotel,” Una says quietly. “Is it true?”Faith doesn’t know what to say.“It wasn’t what you think,” Faith says sighing.“I don’t know what am I thinking?” Una says back to her through the phone coyly.“Una Charity,” Faith says through her teeth.“Well, clearly you had some sort of midnight rendezvous?” Una says matter of factly. “So you are dating these days.”“We’re not dating, we’re just friends,” Faith tells her. “I was helping him out with something.”“So that’s what they are calling it now? Helping out?”“It was a school assignment, nothing more, nothing less,” Faith tells her.“Sure, and I’m Cleopatra bathing in the Nile,” Faith can hear Una roll her eyes.“We’re not in denial,” Faith mutters. “So when we had sex, it was fun and meaningless and it was fine. Completely fine and we’re fine.”“That was a lot of fines," Una says under her breath. "Which is why you are panicking? Because it was fine and now you are questioning everything like you always do this.” Una reminds Faith.“I’m not panicking,” Faith rebuttals huffing as she hears the door open.“You ready to go, the movie going to start without us if we don’t hurry slow poke!” Jem’s voice bellows out. “Come on, I don’t see those legs moving as much as I know your mouth is and can.”“Jesus Christ Jem!” Faith screams, “Hold your damn horses, it’s a movie.”“Yep, still bathing in the Nile,” Una says into her ear. “Have fun with that, and remember if he leaves his hand out…he wants to hold yours.”“I’m hanging up now,” Faith tells her sister groaning. “Really do you have any decorum or I don’t know…think before you speak,” Faith snips at Jem, running her hand through her golden hair. “That was my sister, who has a friend who saw us together that night.”Jem raises an eyebrow, approaching her cautiously. “Is that a problem? I mean we didn’t do anything wrong did we?”“Of course not,” Faith says sighing. “I’m sorry I’m just apparently PMSing big time this month and I don’t know just overthinking.”“Well then, good thing I bought a bunch of chocolate then,” Jem says grinning. “For a second I thought you were wigging out over people thinking we were dating or something. I mean anyone who really knows us, knows we’re just good friends right?”Faith nods her head slowly. “I’m not wigging out, I promise.” She tries to tell herself more than him.“Good,” Jem says stepping dangerously close to her. Still grinning like a maniac as he suddenly reaches for her and tosses her up over his shoulder. “Now come on we’re going to be late.” He says grabbing her purse and her keys from the table.“James Matthew let me down!” Faith exclaims wiggling but he has a good enough grip around her that it does nothing. Small Authors note, I will be heading out on tour with my work and will be gone two weeks and probably won't update for a while unless I have time to do so.  But I should be back within three weeks or so.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“He won’t take a bloody fucking hint!” Faith storms as she flops down on his bed breaking the silence and his concentration…also how did she get into his room? “You’re door was unlocked and someone let me into the building,” Faith tells him answering his question before she rolls over and screams into his pillow.It was November and they were both stressed out with finals coming up sooner than later.Jem looks at the clock and then his books before marking his page and closing them. He languidly walks the three steps to his bed and nudges her over.“What happened?”“He won’t take a bloody fucking hint that is what. I have told him over and over and he showed up my place. I never told him where I lived! Mrs. White let him in and knocked on my door. I was in the middle of studying and he was like I forgot the notes. Except I saw him take them, but fine I’ll send you mind over the school email to get to go…but then no it was like let me take you out for coffee for a thank you and I reminded him that you probably wouldn’t like that and then he looked around and saw the cheesy old photos I had pinned up on the wall from old hang out and concerts. But his response…well, he can’t be against you having friends and I haven’t seen him around that much lately.” Faith says rapidly still in obvious distress or was it anger?“He found out where you lived?” Jem says anger welling up inside of him. “So he is a creep and a half then, can you still Mrs. White to not let him in the house?”“I tried but, he’s a nice young man I see him church on Sundays.” Faith quotes sighing. “I just want him to get a hint and now apparently home isn’t even safe anymore.”“Well, you can always move in here. I mean I have the room since dimwit dropped out,” Jem says. “I mean living with me might get him to back off?”“Yeah I don’t think Dad will go for that,” Faith says sighing.“We’re just friends though? It’s not like Jerry and Nan?” Jem finds himself pointing out.“No but half the campus thinks we’re dating,” Faith tells him. “God I’m surprised I haven’t heard anything from Jerry about it.”“Oh, he called me,” Jem told. “Had a nice long chat about it the consequences of lying and explained the situation and he just said something about Egypt and a river and hung up the phone?”“God him too?” Faith groans. “I just want to graduate without issues or stalkers”“At least stay here for a little bit?” Jem says out loud worried about her safety and all that. He watches her sigh before rolling over, the v of the neckline exposing half of her breast and the edge of her bra which makes him talk a deep breath. “You have enough stress with school, you don’t need more worrying about idiots who can’t take a hint and show up at your place. If it makes you feel better, we can tell the creep that we’re engaged and finally allowed to live with each other now?”“So fake being engaged, now? Are you sure you’re just not trying to get married or something?” Faith says looking at him. “Or better yet into my pants again? Oh, and that was not an invitation either.” She says quickly.Jem chuckles, “All right, but my body is your humble servant should you ever need it, fake betrothed or not.”Faith rolls her eyes but felt that burning pull of desire deep within her mind and body.“You’re contemplating it!” Jem says smirking.“I am not,” Faith huffs, annoyed at his ability to read her like a book.“Really now?” Jem says grinning, his hands so nearly touching her as they ghost over her skin where her shirt rode up and her low-rise jeans didn’t cover. “Because your breathing quickened, and your pupils dilated just a smidgeon and you rubbed your thighs together.”“I’m not,” Faith says shaking her head and forcing her legs to not much an inch.“Then let me give you a love bite,” Jem says“What?” Faith says quickly confused.“Let me give you a hickey, I mean if we are fake engaged we definitely had fun fake celebrating it?” Jem tells her with a grin.“Oh of course, and maybe if you’re lucky I’ll let you touch my boobies.” Faith says with a slight eye roll.“I have touched you…, I’ve touched more than your boobies,” Jem tells her huskily before clearing his throat a bit.“You can touch them again if you’re a good boy,” Faith teases him. “Have you done your homework?”“Pretty sure I was on the physical anatomy of something or another,” Jem says swallowing some nerves. “I believe, I was trying to read about the pulse points of the body, and sure the neck and wrist are fairly easy to locate….there is one that I never quite got the hang of?” He says his fingers trailing up her thigh.“I mean we already did it, what is the harm in partaking in some natural stress relief?” Faith says with her heart beating fast.Jem hums in agreement it seems like, as his fingers still trace over the line that is her bikini zone. She runs her hand through his ruddy red curls, down over the side of his face, sweeping her thumb over his pinkish lips.What were they doing?Did it even matter anymore?The first kiss is slow and steady.“I don’t have…” Jem says breaking this kiss“You’ve been with anyone else since July?” Faith asks him. She already knows the answer is no, but a girl has to ask?Jem only shakes his head.“So it’s fine, It's no different than last time,” Faith tells him. “Birth control a wonderful thing it is?”“So it is,” Jem nods his head, hand dancing around the waistband of her jeans.“If you’re okay with it anyway?” Faith asks him. He makes some of noise of agreement, hand dipping into her waistband. She realizes at that moment she hasn’t done much self-care, but if he minds he says nothing about it.It is much more relaxed this time around, maybe it was because they both knew each other's bodies at this point or neither was trying to impress the other this time around. Faith grasped the hem of his shirt, pulling it up until he had to raise his arms for her. Over his head and onto the floor it went, and the same with hers.She was wearing a pretty bra, that she was thankful for. Sheer mesh and shallowly cut, showing the tops of her breasts off.He fumbles with the hooks in the back. Struggling she takes pity on him reaching behind with her arms and unhooks it but still lets him drag it down her arms.“You know for someone who wants to be a surgeon, you think you would be better at that,” Faith teases him“Excuse me, but slicing and dicing people open is a whole lot easier and they are generally unconscious,” Jem tells her as he misses down her neck.“You know not the greatest thing to say when you have a girl in your bed,” Faith tells him poking his stomach lightly.“Yeah but it’s you and won’t judge me,” Jem says nudging her lightly back against his pillows, his kisses moving slowly down towards her breasts. His hands palmed them, lightly rolling her nipples between his fingers as he does.Faith moans, toes curling in her socks as shocks of pleasure run over her body as he tweaks and eventually licks around her pebbled nipples.His grey jogging pants hide nothing and she can feel him hard against her hip. She reaches blindly with her hand until she can grasp it and squeeze it gently her fingers wrapping around what it can. He lets out a grunt and moans as his hips rock toward her hand.She grins into a kiss as she feels him react in multiple ways, and pushes the sweats down. Nothing his lack of underwear when she feels the velvet softness of his penis. He mutters something under his breath and loses his stream of consciousness as she works her hand over and around him. Letting the droplets that gathered at the tip work to wet her hand down a bit.“Fuck Faith,” he groans. He reaches for her jean and her underwear, pulling at them until she can wiggle fully out of them. His hand goes straight for her core, dipping into the warm wetness, gathering up what he could before moving back for her clit. He can play her like a marionette at this point. Knowing just what to do and what brings her world crashing around her, smugly at that.She ends up underneath him, coming apart and together at the same time it feels like heaven. It’s a delicious stretch that makes her groan and wiggle closer to him. God, they were fools the first time they did this, but the sensations were an overload to her mind.She grips his bed sheet, she grips his arms and his shoulders, his hips trying to pull him closer. Her whole body felt like it was fire and fire was good.They were both panting, and she feels cold when he moves off and away from her. She knows she should go pee, but at the same time, she has no energy to spend doing so. She stays the night, waking up to the smells of coffee and breakfast. She finds Jem making pancakes on the stove, dressed in his low-riding jeans, and nothing else so far.“Sleeping beauty is awake,” he says grinning. “I figured we could eat some food and then go down to the mall together. Maybe if some people see us together, or see us I don’t look shiny things it will give the stupid face more a hint,” Jem explains. “You can grab a clean shirt from my drawer, and I think you still have a pair of underwear from a sleepover.”“I don’t think I ever left underwear at your place?” Faith gives him a look.“Well, if it’s not yours, I don’t know who they are then,” Jem says shrugging. And he says it in such a way that Faith believes him.Faith shakes her head, looking at the photos on his fridge, of his family, siblings, of them together.“How’s Rilla doing out in Toronto?” She asks after a moment, as she pours cream into her coffee.“Good, I think?” Jem says thinking about it. “Mom and Dad haven’t said much about her lately so one can assume, no news is good news?”“That's good, it’s good for her to heal from all of that happened to her,” Faith says sipping from her mug.“It is,” Jem says nodding his head, before handing her a plate of pancakes with a few sausages on them. “Just sucks that the lead on who did it to her went nowhere, sometimes I wonder if she’ll ever come home now?”“One day maybe, but if being on the island makes her worse, maybe the best thing for her is to not be there?” Faith reminds him. They eat breakfast, as I nothing happened the night before. That she didn’t have him inside her body, or even still potentially in her body, she rummages through her purse and breaks the blister of the day's pill and swallows it with a drink of coffee.Jem says nothing, and neither does she.It turns out they are her underwear, from god knows when and she borrows one of his shirts before they bundle up and takes his truck to the mall. “We can't do this is so wrong,” Faith says shaking her head when Jem brought her to the jewellery store in the mall.“It’s perfect let everyone see us shop for rings, and let the word spread. I mean we’re not the first couple to get engaged this year. God by the time medical school is done half of us are engaged or married so looks right on track on my side,” Jem tells her.“And if I fall in love with a ring?”Faith questions him.“Well, since you don’t like diamonds, I have a feeling a pretty gemstone will be easy enough to buy you?”“You are not buying me a ring, James Blythe!” Faith shrieks.Jem just shrugs, “Just humour me in this?”“And how do you explain this to your parents, my parents, or siblings?” Faith asks him next.Jem just shrugs once more. “The truth is it was a ploy to get another person to stop bothering you, but what in the meantime, what they don't know won't hurt them,” Jem tells her.“Can I help you two?” The salesperson asks with mild interest.“Yes, we are shopping for an engagement ring, a temporary one since I do plan on getting her a proper one once I graduate medical school,” Jem says grinning at Faith.“So something pretty but budget sensible?” The lady nods her head. “Is there a budget to consider? You can write it down if you wish if you don’t wish for her to know?”Jem nods his head thinking of his bank account and hand over the paper and the sales lady nods her head.Do you have an idea of style or cut you like,” she asks Faith.“I never thought about it, this was all a bit of a new development,” Faith says honestly. “I like gemstones better than diamonds,“Actual that is very common, and budget-friendly for many young couples, or they settle with a white sapphire. Looks like a diamond to most, but usually a fraction of the cost.” The salesperson tells them before going to collect rings for them.“We can’t do this,” Faith says quietly.“Why not?” Jem says looking at her. “Am I not worthy enough to be Miss Meredith’s fiancé?”“It’s just preposterous Jem, we’re doing it for what really. Some guy who can’t take a hint?” Faith says quietly exclaiming as she watches the woman pick out things.“ A guy who doesn’t make you feel safe and found out where you live,” Jem corrects her. “What about that one, I think that one would suit you, darling,” he says pointing to a ring on the tray the woman brought over.Faith tried it on sighing lightly, looking at it she shakes her head.“You have the worst taste in the world,” Faith shakes her head taking it off.“I think this one is better,” Faith says picking up an opal ring with a few small accent diamonds around it.“It's pretty,” Jem says taking it from her and taking her hand, sliding it on her ring finger. “Fits as well, like a perfect match. How much is that one?” He asks.“I will double-check,” she says and goes over to the case once more, handing him the display with the price.“How much is it?”Faith asks.“None of your business,” Jem says waving her off.“James Matthew,” Faith warns him.“Cecelia Faith,” Jem says simply back to her, giving her a look and a raised eyebrow, before stepping closer to her. “Behave we have company,” he whispers, brushing back a stray lock of hair from her face.Faith blushes and looks down at the ring. “Do what you want then,” she says and Jem grins. “I’ll pay you back for one day.” She tells him.“One day when we fake break-up, you’ll let you see the receipt,” Jem says smirking. “Now look happy and put your arms around me and kiss me.”

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More and more of Faith's things gather in his apartment and every night it’s a guessing game of where they will end up. Sometimes they sleep separately, sometimes they fall asleep together watching movies his bed, or hers. Still, most of the time is spent studying, making each other coffee and tea using each other knowledge to ask questions.Laundry was done to whoever managed to remember about it first, and cooking was often the same fashion though Faith seemed to bring more colour and salad to his fridge.Everything was done with unspoken words, a touch a hand and a look that lead them tumbling into the bedroom.They drive back to the Island for Christmas together.“How were exams for you?” Faith asks as if she hadn’t seen him slaving over these books and studying every moment he could. Then again she did the same.“Good I think, just glad it's over with for the semester,” Jem says his eye-catching the ring that hadn’t left her finger since October that was playing with as she always does these days. “I suppose we need to hide that?“I suppose I should be put in a safe spot, no need to give my family a heart attack?” Faith says laughing. “I’ve gotten used to wearing it, and my god it works extremely well, I don’t think I ever had such a peaceful round of library studies before. Though the church has caught on to it I think? Reverend Daniel keeps trying to bring it up and I keep laughing it off and telling him, that he’s reading too much into everything and my family is perfectly all right with everything.”“You mean, like practically living with me?” Jem says teasingly.“I have my own room, Rosemary talked it over with Dad and got him to be all right with it. Something about being too busy for anything else but studying?” Faith says with a small impish grin.“You did take your pill this morning?” Jem asks looking over at her, suddenly realizing that he hadn’t seen her take it. Something about the idea of two weeks apart had made last night something else for them both.“You know what, I thought I forgot something,” Faith says after a moment and Jem swerves on the road in panic. “Seriously Jem! Of course, I did,” She exclaims reaching for the wheel.“Don’t make jokes like that, not when we clearly don’t use anything else,” Jem gives her a look.“But you’re so cute when you panic,” Faith laughs.“You wouldn’t be so cute if you’re peeing on a stick,” Jem gives her a look. “Or I’ll pick up some rubbers on our way home?”Faith raises an eyebrow and gives a look of I'll believe it when I see it. It really felt like unless it was with someone else, neither of them would go back at this point. He drops Faith off at her parents, before driving to Ingleside“I’m here!” He calls out.“Kitchen,” someone calls out and he drops his things and kicks off his shoes before heading towards the back of the house.His parents are there with Walter and he almost didn’t recognize her for a good moment. Rilla had come home for Christmas! While still looking impossibly thin, she looked healthier and her hair had some shine and bounce to it once more. She had a smile on her face for the first time in so long. It looked like some of her spunk, her light has come back.“You look good,” he comments quietly.“I’m better, getting there slowly,” she tells him, though what surprises him most is that she reaches for a hug. He doesn’t remember the last time she hugged his sister, and he hugs her tightly. She still smells like his little sister, a smell he knows and cherishes after so many years of being her big brother. “I help with the horses and learned to ride a bit.” She says sitting down once more.“That’s good,” he says sitting next to her.“Group therapy helps a lot as well. It was nice to know that I wasn’t the only one. I’m still on medication and still watched of course,” She says quietly, Walter takes another chair and carefully takes her hand and squeezes it.“Well, give it time. You gave us all a scare last spring,” Jem says reaching out cautiously and taking her other hand and she lets him, though she does flinch ever so slightly. “I’m sorry I showed you that place though, trying to be the cool older brother I just—,”“What? Why are you sorry I went to the party…I would have found the place!” Rilla's voice squeaks. “Please don’t blame yourself for my choices, if my therapist tells me that I can’t blame myself, then you shouldn’t be able to blame yourself either.”“See that is the Rilla I knew all my life,” Jem says grinning.“Well, I’m trying my best, though what's up with you and Faith living together? Even Nan and Jerry don’t do that?” She asks him.“Honestly, we’re just trying to keep a nosy classmate from bothering her,” Jem says cautiously. “I needed a roommate and it all worked out.”“Sure, and I am sure all the cuddling and kissing is just an added bonus?” Rilla actively teases him. “Nan says campus thinks you’re engaged?”“It’s not like it happens all the time,” Jem says before shutting his mouth and everyone seems to look at him.“I knew it!” Rilla jumps up. “You are dating.”“We’re not dating,” Jem clarifies. “Seriously I mean it, it’s all for show, nothing is real.”Walter is watching him, so close together growing up they were more like twins than their actual twin sisters. His parents look at him for a long moment, as if they debating if he needs a talk about safe sex or something or another again.“I’m serious, look we're adults we know what we’re doing,” Jem tells them as his phone goes off. “Seriously how did we get roped into this?” Jem asked. “Joseph was not a ginger.”“It’s the nativity Jem, it’s not the end of the world,” Faith says rolling her eyes, fixing her veil.“Mary wasn’t even blonde,” Jem adds on“Well, take that up with the Vatican and the medieval times,” Faith says rolling her eyes while tying his sash for him.“Why isn’t Una Mary? I mean she’s the actual virgin because you definitely aren’t” Jem whispers.“Oh thanks, but considering you’re the ginger, you can be Mary Magdalene on us then,” Faith rolls her eyes.“And really we all believe that Joseph didn’t care? Just went along with everything when the kid wasn’t even his?”“First off why do you think Una is a virgin? Second, you’re not gonna talk yourself out of this,” Faith tells him as she tugs on his middle-eastern style headdress.“Because it’s Una I don’t think I have ever heard or seen her dating anyone, nor have you even mentioned it beyond her hanging out with Walter?”“yeah Hanging out,” Faith air quotes him and when he looks at her blanket. “Seriously do you not listen at all? She and Walter are dating, and trust me, she is not some Virgin Mary. That thing last week that you liked. Yeah, that came from her.”“Okay, I really didn’t need to know about that or them, also it's getting a bit creepy between our families. Seriously Glen needs a new family…. “Jem says…before it dawns on him. “You mean that?…… Faith that's my brother! Oh my god, I really can’t get that out of my head.”“Oh come on, you liked it,” Faith whispers grinning. “Now, remember don’t panic and drop baby Jesus,” Faith tells him.“I don’t like being the centre of attention Faith…you know I don’t like this stuff. I don’t even want to ever have a wedding because I don’t want people to watch me be a fool and mess up his vows one day. Jem groans.“Oh come on, you will never be the centre of attention in this. Joe is just a nice tolerant guy who clearly knows that this kid can’t be his, and face it, the groom is never the centre of attention that is for the bride.” Faith pats his face. “So nothing to worry about, now come on and remember you love baby Jesus like he’s your own.”“Isn’t this whole thing cultural appropriation,” Jem asks looking at himself. Fixing his headdress she put it on his head.“It’s the nativity Jem, I think people get it's more of a celebration and really not that deep,” Faith gives him a look.She looks around for a moment, before kissing him quickly realizing no one else was around. "Don't be so nervous, if you can slice and dice people, you can do a simple nativity scene."

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They fall back into place once back at school, fall back in the safe haven of the apartment as they walk to school together, and church on Sundays.“We should get married,” Jem says from behind his computer screen.“What? Why? What are you going on about this time?” Faith asks without looking up at him, as she is rather used to his odd questions.“So I can use you as my emergency contact on my rotation applications?” Jem says simply.“You want to get married so that I can be your emergency contact for rotations? I didn’t think emergency contacts needed legality tied to it for you?”“Well, it also helps in placement, meaning if I have a spouse that I need to be nearby or close to for practical reasons and financial reasons?” Jem explains.“Again….and you think marriage will solve all of that?” Faith looks at him.“Potentially helps? I mean I could end up somewhere in New Brunswick needing a new place to live, and you would have to either move or find a new roommate. You still have a year of school left and that also means dodging stalker alone?“You are crazy,” Faith says shaking her head and going back to her own computer. “What is marriage? A piece of a paper, and an excuse to have sex without gods punishment?”“Says the chick who regularly tries on her mother's dress to make sure it fits?” Jem counters back.Faith looks up at him and snaps her laptop shut. How many times has he done up those millions of buttons for her over the years? Both of them sneaking into the attic of her father's house until she found it in her closet and there it stayed.“Good Job,” She says sarcastically standing up. “You’re officially the biggest idiot I know.”“Oh come on Faith,” Jem calls after her, but she slams her bedroom door shut. He’s up in the middle of the night, though neither of them seemed to have fallen asleep. She sighs and throws back the blankets and walks over to his room, walks in without knocking and crawls into his bed without a word.It is dark and quiet before Jem quietly speaks, go quietly she doesn’t even think she hears him at first.“I don’t want to lose you.”“You’ll don’t want to lose me?” Faith answers confused.“I can’t lose you if I get you to marry me.”“You do realize that there is divorce right?”Faith says looking up at him.“Not for us there, we wouldn’t ever need it,” Jem says. “I don’t want to ever lose you and this is the only thing I can think of doing to ensure I don’t.”“Jem…” Faith says quietly. “Not wanting to lose someone isn’t a reason to get married…there have to be other things?”“Like what?”Jem asks her earnestly.“Well…”Faith says trying to think of them but every time she does it no longer contains them.They should enjoy each other companyThey should trust each other impeccably soThey should have a reasonable amount of time to live with each otherThey should have each other's backTo care for each other when the other is sick.They should love….“One should love each other?” Faith says shakily, trying to make him think…“You think I don’t love you?” He says quietly. “I’ve loved you since you were fourteen in ripped dirty jeans, and you took my breath away at the wedding. Unless…” he says as it dawns on him that maybe it was all him and his emotions.“You love me?” Faith asks, heart, beating fast in her chest.“Of course I do Faith, I’ve only kept that whole friend thing before it was easier than losing you.”“Then why didn’t you show up? That day? When we were meant to meet up and talk about Halloween?” Faith asks him.“I didn’t show up? You never showed up? I called your work and left a message that because it was raining to meet me at the old bookshop. I called your work from the pay phone and asked to make sure you got the message and they said they gave it to you, hell I even went to the bridge but you there either.” Jem says as old memories flood into his head.“I waited almost an hour before I gave up and left. But I never got that message Jem and when I did run into you, you acted as if nothing happened and I was so confused but I went with it.” Faith says quietly.“So essentially we’ve been ignoring everything for two years because…we thought the other person only wanted to be friends?” Jem says into the dark. “When both of us…both wanted to be more and even when we tried out hardest to show each other, we just thought we only wanted to be friends.”“We even found a way to be together-together and not face reality,” Faith says quietly curling up.“Until now,” Jem says, his arm reaching for her and wrapping around her shoulder.“Say it again,” Faith asks him.“Marry me?” Jem says cheekily and she gives him a look. “I love you, and I pray to every god above us in the sky that you love me too?”Faith, looks at him, taking the side of his face in his hand and caressing it for a moment. “I have loved you for as long as I can remember. No one has ever compared to you.”Jem looks at her, pulling her close enough to kiss. It stays just a kiss, too tired to start anything more other than to just lay down in each other's arms, “So what now?” Faith asks the next morning as he cooks breakfast for them.“Well, I say we skip everything and just jump in,” Jem says hopefully as he pours their eggs onto a plate.“That makes no sense Jem.” Faith sighs.“It makes perfect sense, why waste our time doing things we’ve already done?” Jem tells her giving her a kiss, and then her plate. “Really if you think about it, we’ve been together forever, we dated in high school, and been in a relationship for most of college, sure the sex took a while but we even did that already. We not just go get married and never have to worry again?”“Our families will kill us Jem,” Faith tells him with an ‘Are you that stupid look’.“They’ll never believe it,” Jem corrects her. “We can get married, and go home for easter and tell them and they will think we are joking but it will be real. We both don’t have class later, and a license is valid for three months. We can get it today?”“How do you even know this?” Faith exclaims.“I looked it up,” Jem grins as he eats a forkful of scrambled ages. “Google is an incredible search engine, have you heard of it?”“You’re positively incorrigible,” Faith tells him with a shake of her head.“But you love me anyway,” Jem grins even wider and Faith rolls her eyes. “They open at 9:30 am, so best get ready and out the door. Dress warm though its apparently a cold day today, ” “We would like to get a marriage license please,” Jem grins at the rather unenthusiastic government worker.“Are you both 19 or older?” She says looking more at Faith.“Twenty-one and twenty-three,” He says for her.“Two pieces of ID, one must be a photo,” She tells them, she looks them over, making copies before handing them back, before handing them a clipboard. “Take a seat and fill it out,” she tells them.‘Date?” Jem asks starting up at the top.“January 15th, 2007,” Faith tells him looking at the calendar on the nearest desk.“Bride —Cecelia Faith Meredith,” Jem writes down. “Date of Birth, September 30th, 1986,” he scribbles down on the sheet of paper.“Current address, well that is easy 1253 Edward St, Halifax.” Jem continues writing.“You would think I would get to write out my own information.” Faith says rolling her eyes.“Fine you can do mine,” Jem says to her. “Afterwards, Parents, John Meredith,”“Give it here,” Faith says shaking her head, but he shakes his head. “Jonathon Elliot Meredith, Born in Winnipeg Manitoba, Cecelia Marie, born in Moncton New Brunswick,” she tells him.“James Matthew Blythe,” Faith says writing it down. “I don’t want to change my name until after graduation.”“You can keep it forever if you want, I’m marrying you, not your name,” Jem tells her.“Good, Date of Birth, is July 8th, 1984,” Faith says under her breath. “Address is the same, Parents' full names?”“Gilbert Andrew Blythe and Anne Elinor Shirley,” Jem tells her. “Dad was born in Summerside PEI, and Mom in Bolingbrook Nova Scotia.“When do we want to get married.” Faith asks him.“Soon as possible, but I am told that the courthouse only does it on Fridays,” Jem tells her.“Okay, but you have class on Friday and I clinical?” Faith reminds him.“We can miss one day?” Jem says. “I mean it would be our wedding day?”“We can also just pay someone to meet us in a park, we also need two witnesses,”“Apparently we can hire strangers for like 50$,” Jem says. “The whole thing should be more than a few hundred.“Do we even have money for this?” Faith asks him.“We’ll be fine,” Jem says shrugging.“Why are you always so nonchalant about money?” Faith asks him curiously.“Because I can be?” Jem says. “I have savings, mom and dad helped cover a good portion of school already and I work and have lines of credit but I also have my inheritance from Aunt Marilla who was a frugile to the core. She left all of us kids a good chunk of money, and told us to use it for something we love and not for school.”“Fair enough and also explains how you paid for the ring. Dad controls ours from Mom until we graduate college,” Faith tells him turning slightly red. "But I can ask for some money and help, he usually doesn't ask questions when I do ask for extra cash?""I refuse to be a kept woman, James Blythe," Faith tells him. "We can figure it out later, let us not argue about money and hand this in shall we?" Jem says looking it over and standing up and walking back over to the lady who helped them and they wait another fifteen minutes after she begins typing on her computer. Humming here and there before taking the cash that Jem had taken out of his wallet. "You will give this to whoever will be performing the ceremony, they will help you fill it out and send it in to register the marriage once it takes place. You have three months contingency for the license, after that, it will but nullified.  Also congratulations, and best wishes for your future and stay warm today." she says handing them an envelope. They both walk out feeling rather strange. "I can't believe we just did that," Faith tells him, her breath freezing in the air as they walk down the way to his truck.

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They end up getting married on an old houseboat because it's simple and mainly because it was available to them via one of Jem’s friends. Though when the offer to borrow the boat came up, Jem just decided to feign interest for a weekend away with Faith, and maybe some engagement photo’s that their parents have been hounding for.They pack up their things and drive down two hours to the old town of Lunenburg on reading week.It's March, it’s cold and grey, but it will be their day.The boat is old but in good condition and looks like something that should belong in an old cartoon, and show Popeye.They dress in the bedroom, stealing glances and kisses as he does up the buttons on the back of her mother's dress that still fit her, not quite white these days, but more a cream colour. Well, Jem is in the only suit he Owen that he usually wore for interviews.She brushes out her hair, braiding the top half into a loose fishtail braid back from her face and pins little flowers into it, fiddling until Jem's cellphone rings and he goes to greet the justice of the piece.“We were told to give you this,” Jem says cheerfully. “We’ll keep this short and sweet, we know it’s not the warmest day.”“Ready spaghetti?” He calls out.“Really Jem?” Faith says shaking her and ducking out of the small bedroom and smiling at the strangers and apparently a photographer. Who clicks her camera at the opportune time.They said their vows in front of the justice of the peace and two strangers, holding hands and exchanging rings.Afterwards, they take more photos, the ocean in the background, and the sea breeze on their faces as they both grinned at each other, pretending to say cheese and making goofy faces for the camera.They walk around the old colourful town as well, taking photos and being utterly in love until their stomachs rumble. Jem discreetly pays the photographer who says she’ll have the first round of photos soon enough and that she remembers to not put any up on her site until they have told their parents.Jem holds her hand as they find a restaurant, forgoing the romantic options, they sit and eat a heart-shaped pizza they were brought when they came in wearing their wedding clothing. Their server snaps a few photos for them, and for the owner who would not believe the story.Finally, they make it back to the boat,“Put me down!” Faith shrieks as Jem picks her up. “This isn’t even our home.”“Never,” Jem laughs deeply and carefully puts her down on the bed. “Jason said he had everything cleaned up for us.”“How kind of him,” Faith says, pulling at his tie to kiss him. “I can’t believe I am your wife.”“Hmm, wife,” Jem hums. “I do like the sound of that, I also believe we missing our first dance?”“I didn’t realize we were having one,” Faith says and Jem goes to the cd player in the corner. He hits a few buttons, before hitting play. He quickly pulls her into his arms and the familiar sound of country music comes across the speaker.They sway to the music, laughing as one of them stumbles or steps on the other foot.
And the way she thinks sometimes

Out of nowhere, she blows my mind

She makes me laugh and makes me dream

I love the way she looks at things

A little piece of heaven God gave to this world

She might think she's just an ordinary girl
“We’ll need a lesson one day, when our parents make us have a wedding,” Faith tells him.“Well we’ll have lots of time practice,” Jem says trying to twirl her. Before pulling her close and whispering along to the lyrics.But you can't hide beautiful You can't hide wonderful
There's nothing that she has to do

It just comes natural

She makes it look easy

I love what she does to me

No way to disguise

The way that she shines

You can't hide beautiful, oh no
“I love that song,” Faith says looking at him.“I know, and It reminded me of you every time you played it,” Jem says as the next tracks go into play.“Did you make a CD?” Faith asks him at Keane’s Somewhere Only We Know begins to play.“Possibly,” Jem says his ears going red and Faith smiles and kisses him. Swaying to the music with her head on his chest. They do this for another two songs, Howie Day’s Collide and then one she doesn’t quite know.“Help me out of this dress?” She asks him and he nods his head as she turns around so he can help her. Instead at first, he nibbles on her shoulder as she rolls her eyes at him. “The faster you undo them, the faster I am naked.”She feels him start to undo the buttons down the back of the old dress, white, lace with the distinct looks of the late 70s and early 80s. Soft and romantic, not crazy and since Faith was taller than her mother it sat just at her ankles. She steps out of the dress, and he moves to pick it up and place it out of the way.“I hope one day our daughters can wear that dress,” He says with a smile.“Daughters huh?” Faith looks at him in her white boy shorts, and garters because the dress didn’t work well with today's bra. “How many are you planning on having?”“Oh just a handful or so,” he grins at her. “And a couple of boys that they can keep in line for us.”“And who is having all these children?” Faith looks at him pulling his tie loose for him. “Because I figured, two ovaries, two children max.”“Fair enough, but not until we’re at least twenty-eight or thirty.” Jem says, “I’ll just enjoy the thought of seeing you pregnant one day. Though twins do run in the family.”“Twins run on the maternal side of the family, while you can carry the genetics for it and pass it on. The chances of us ever having twins are slim as any.” Faith reminds him, hand undoing his belt this time. “I would have thought you learned that by now?”“I have,” Jem says grinning. “Just making sure your knowledge is up to par?”“Oh we are playing this game are we?” Faith says raising her eyebrow, handing running over the crotch of his hands causing him to groan and his hips buck lightly. “Didn’t I win last time?”“You always win,” Jem says, his voice cracking slightly. The boat rocks enough that it catches them both off guard. He quickly sheds the rest of his clothing and pulls down on the bed, tumbling slightly with a laugh before kissing her deeply.There is little hurry in their lovemaking, hands trail and tract over each other's bodies. Sending shivers and moans into the cool of the night, the overhead light flickers as it swings with the motion of the boat.Kisses down her neck and over her breasts, teasing and nipping lightly as her body slowly ignites that ever-burning fire. Their hands entwined, always one together at this moment it felt like. The matching plain gold bands are simple much like themselves. Nothing distracting and easily worn for clinical rotations that still made up their lives.Her hips cradled his, pulling him into her body over and over again. Now he wasn’t sure who was rocking the boat, them or the wind on the water. When he finally slides into her, it’s like the first time all over again. An overload to his system as he tries not to lose it.Fingers entwined, their bodies are close as possible. It isn’t very often their orgasms match up. Mostly because he usually makes it his mission to give her one before he even thinks about his own, but today the steady hum around them makes things intensify. The way his pubic bone hits her pelvis, the angle that each thrust, it all sent fire through their veins. It was heaven and hell all the same time, wanting to make it last, but also feeling her body convulse around him.“I love you,” he whispers in her ear.How many times has he whispered it to her since they admitted it?“I love you too,” she replies against his hips. Her ring hand caressed the side of his face, brushing back his ruddy red curls.He watches her sleep, for the longest time afterwards.He goes to the washroom, picking up the jacket of his suit, feeling a crinkle of paper. He pulls it out and goes to the bathroom for light and sees Faith's delicate handwriting and his name on it.
Jem
But as he opened it was a typed-up piece of paper. Dated last summer. 
We met not long after my mother died. I was twelve and he was fourteen. I don’t know why we got along but I knew if I needed someone to vent to I could vent to him. Something just drew us together, he was there when I wasn’t sure about my stepmother, and he taught me how to dance. He was my first kiss, I was fifteen and worried about boys at a dance or something. It wasn’t great, he’s gotten better though. We went to his prom together, as friends, dancing stupidly the night away in his rented tux, and some cheap dress I found secondhand.

Then he graduated and I finished high school. Maybe we understood it wasn’t our time, two years is a lot and a little at the same time. I was 16 and he was 18
This isn’t our first time sleeping together, though the only other time was under the influence of really bad Yager bombs. Reassured that we used protection we went on our separate ways, making verbal plans to talk about it later because we both have class.
We were supposed to meet up, to talk about it. Except there was some sort of miscommunication? We were supposed to meet at our spot on the bridge, but I was running late at work, and it was raining. I waited though, thinking maybe he got held up at his own work.

Neither of us knew how to approach the subject, and it just fell to the side. Friends. Always friends. We could always depend on it. If I needed a date he was there, if he needed a patient to practice on. I was there. It just worked for us.
 
This assignment was no different, yet wildly different at the same time. Jem knows me better than I know myself in many things. Much like I know him better than himself at times, I was never worried or afraid until now that is.

How could this ruin it?

Okay, he still kisses with a bit too much tongue. But that is a personal preference at best.

Jem is always putting everyone before himself, he will go to great lengths to make someone comfortable, and better he is a gentleman in bed.

This experiment has only cemented what I already knew about James Blythe. He is the kindest, most sincere goofball that I know, and he knows how to give a girl an orgasm.

Most of all

I love him dearly.
 Song by Aaron Line- You can’t hide Beautiful

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The air was an ocean breeze that made them take a deep breath as they crossed the bridge. The drive was pleasant as usual, Faith singing to the radio beside him and her face brightening at the site of the island.“Do you want to move back one day?” Jem asks her, reaching for her hand and kissing the back of it.“I’m happy anywhere,” Faith tells him simply. “Do you think they’ll be angry?”“I’m sure they’ll be surprised?” Jem says after a moment. “They probably won’t even believe us at first?”“Well, I brought photos for proof,” Faith says with a smile.Both families are at Ingleside, being the larger of the house when they arrive Saturday afternoon. Both of them offered to work Good Friday to have Easter Sunday off.“I still can’t get over Walter and Una,” Jem whispers in her ear as he watches them from the corner of the living room they were in. He sneaks in the smallest of kisses on the back of her neck as he does.“Be good,” Faith warns him taking a drink of her wine.“I wonder if any of them will notice the rings,” Jem whispers. “You have been practically waving it in people's faces and still nothing.”Rilla was home for the weekend, looking healthier than even she had been at Christmas.“I have a boyfriend,” she tells him. “He goes to the school I go to in Toronto.”“Is he nice?” Jem asks quickly.“Uncle Owen all but vetted him, ” Rilla tells him with a laugh. “He’s…he good about everything. May not completely understand it all but he tries for me.”“Well, as long as you are happy,” Jem tells her, feeling Faith's hand on his back. Knowing how worried he was about her crush on Kenneth Ford.“I am,” Rilla nods her head. “Actually he’s one of Kenneth’s friends' younger brother. So he has to be on his best behaviour, or he’ll have everyone on him.”Jem shakes his head at her. “Please don’t tell me you are not just…”“Not what?” Rilla looks at him rather put out.“Nothing, he means nothing Rilla,” Faith answers for him. “Do you have a picture of him?”Rilla nods her head and takes out her pink flip phone and shows off the grainy photo that she had of him. “We’re going to go to prom together.”"Oh, do you have your dress?” Faith asks getting excited and the young girl nods her head.“Mom flew down for March break and we went shopping with Aunt Leslie and made a day of it.” Rilla nods her head.Wasn’t it just last year the young girl felt like she had nothing to live for?The rest of the evening the kids break off into their own little pairs and Faith looks longingly at Jem when Rosemary pulls her off to the side talking about things until they had back to the Manse. “What are you doing here,” Faith hisses as she sees her husband climb through her window to her old childhood room.“I couldn’t sleep,” Jem says shrugging and Nan and Jerry keep giggling in the room beside me. “ Which only means one thing.”“Come on then,” Faith says shaking her head. “I still only have a twin bed here,” she warns him.“All the more reason to cuddle you, my dear,” Jem says mimicking the big bad wolf who played Gramma in little red riding hood.Faith rolls her eyes and pushes him onto the bed.“We’ll tell them tomorrow?” She asks him.“At dinner, as planned,” Jem says nodding, wrapping his arm around her, setting his phone to wake him up so he could sneak back over to Ingleside. “Do you think they’ll give you a bigger bed once they know we’re married?”“Just hush and go to sleep,” Faith yawns, not admitting she didn’t like the feeling of sleeping alone either and happy that he was there with her now. Dinner is a grand affair, it’s always a grand affair for Easter, everyone is still dressed up in spring pastels and colours this April Sunday. Faith is wearing a white floral and pink sundress, and Jem is still in his light grey slacks and a lavender purple button-down.“We have an announcement,” Jem says squeezing her hand under the table before standing up,“Faith and I…”“Oh my god, you finally did you, you’re finally together!” Di jumps up. “Everyone pays me.”“You were not betting on your brother and Faith,” Anne says chastising her lightly.“I don’t know Anne, we thought it would happen ages ago,” Rosemary says.“I said it would take until they were thirty,” Nan says shaking her head“You’ll have to rethink the living arrangement,” Walter says with a grin.“I knew you were lying last year,” Rilla says indignantly from her seat.“I knew it was all a lie, assignments my ass,” Jerry says under his breath.“What assignment?” Mr Meredith says looking at them.“They slept together last summer for a school assignment and apparently couldn’t keep in their pants afterwards,” Una says with a smirk“Una, you knew!” Walter looks at her.“Dear lord, is everyone fucking each other between these two families?” Rilla says.“Rilla language!” Anne exclaims.“Please tell me no one is pregnant,” Gilbert says looking at both Jem and Faith.“Well, that explains him shimmying down the old lattice last night and up this morning,” Shirley says simply.“No one is pregnant,” Jem stresses.”Now can I please finish,” Jem speaks loudly and everyone sort of looks at him expectedly? “For your information, we are not changing anything about our living arrangements, and seriously we spent all day trying to get you to notice something but you all missed it somehow. Mr. Meredith, I apologize in advance for not asking your permission, but given the circumstance of our sheer stupidity towards our feeling for each other.”“Oh just come off with it,” Shirley heckles him.“What Jem is saying is trying to say,” Faith says standing up and taking his hand in hers before holding out her left hand. “Is that we got married last month!” Crickets and then the older married couple burst out laughing.“Oh, that is a good one,” Anne laughs. “God I almost believed it for a moment.”“We’re not joking,” Jem looks at his mother. “We got married, last month, signed and dotted the I’s on the paperwork and all.”“You got married,” Doctor Blythe let it roll off his tongue. “You haven’t even dated, if you’re pregnant just say so.”“I’m not pregnant,” Faith reiterates to Jem looking at her father and stepmother. “We just…we didn’t see the point in dating in we knew we loved each other and wanted to be together forever.” She says leaving out clinical and rotation applications of course.“You are truly married?” Rosemary asks and Faith nods her head.“You eloped?” John Meredith says trying to process.“In Lunenburg, Jem's friend lent us his boat the weekend, we have photos and everything?” Faith says cautiously. “We just…we didn’t want a fuss, we have never been about fuss.”“And they say Jesus rising from the dead was a big enough surprise for us to celebrate Easter,” Shirley says, before receiving a sharp glance from his father.“You’re not even finished school,” Anne Blythe says.“Faith finishes this month,” Jem tells him. “Masters in science, and being married in medical school is common enough.”“And the cost of medical school?” Gilbert says reminding him.“Gilbert,” Anne hisses.“I’ll manage with loans,” Jem says rather prickly. “We’ll be okay, Faith will find a job and work, and I’ll start rotations next year. We’ll make it work on our own if we have to.”Faith looks around, she thought. She thought that things would be different and not be like this. Jem looks at her squeezing her hand. Both of their parents are trying to work out how they felt about this.“You’re truly happy?” John says after a moment looking at his daughter.“I am, we are,” Faith says looking at Jem. “And I promise no babies until he’s finished with school and I have a few years of nursing under my belt,” Faith tells him with a nod of his head.“You better have those photos for us,” Anne says looking at Rosemary.“Yes, my god, no one will believe it otherwise at the church office,” Rosemary says. “Let me see that ring and after dinner, we want the whole story about how this all came about.”“I second that,” Anne agrees.“Well, that was…?” Jem says wrapping his arms around her on the veranda. A kiss on her shoulder. Photos are scattered over Ingleside's living room. Photos of laughing, silly, two clearly in love people. The old reverend looked teary-eyed when he saw his daughter in the old wedding dress, and Anne couldn’t quite believe that the ruddy-haired man in the photos was her little baby.“Terrifying for a good five minutes,” Faith says agreeing with him.“Happy though?” Jem asks her.“Never been happier,” Faith looks up at him and kisses the base of his jaw. 
Epilogue.
“Dinah, Alfie! It’s time to get up,” Faith calls up the stairs, already dressed for the day in her bright pink scrubs. “You too Jem! You’re opening this morning!”“Mama, mama, mama,” she hears turning around to see her littlest who was already in her highchair.“What is it, Gracie?” Faith says kissing the top of her baby's head.“Mama, babanana,” she says sticking her hands in her mouth.“Banana it is this morning,” Faith laughs as she hears footsteps down the stairs.“Mommy, Daddy didn’t spray the bathroom!” Dinah a strawberry blonde girl complains.“How rude of him,” Faith says shaking her head. “Come one, we’re all going to be late if we don’t hurry. Alfie, you need to eat and not play with your trains,” she tells the matching strawberry-blonde boy.Twins of course. Of course, they ended up with twins on the first try when they decided to have a child seven years ago. Except where Dinah is outspoken and talkative, Alfie is serious and pensive.“Have you seen my glasses, love?” Jem asks trying to find his things. Dressed in his suit pants and a button-down shirt. The white jacket would come later to the office.“Daddy’s old,” Dinah giggles as she eats her toast.“Daddy needs to see to drive, you to school,” Jem says stealing a bite of his daughter's toast.“Daddy!” Dinah cries out.“Dinah,” Jem says back to her with a grin.“You left them by the computer,” Alfie tells his father. “Along with your keys.”“Thank you, Alfie,” Jem says with a chuckle and ruffles his son's hair.“Gracie needs to be changed,” Faith tells him as she looks at the clock and the kids rush to wash their hands and grab their school bags. “We’re all going to be late if we don’t hurry.”“Take the kid to school in the van, I’ll get Gracie ready for daycare and drop her off and walk down to the clinic,” Jem tells her giving her a kiss and taking the baby from her. Ooph, Gracie you are absolutely rotten,” he says sniffling her his nose wrinkling.“Just like her father,” Faith grins and grabs her keys. “Alfie, Dinah, coat and shoes please.” She says urging them.“Love you, have a good day at school, see you soon Love,” he tells Faith and the kids and waves from the window as they all drive away. “Well Gracie, let's get you sorted shall we?” He says kissing her downy head.