My attention strays back to directions, and after a complicated set of twists and turns, we're on an old dirt road cruising slowly past fields full of Thoroughbreds. Their black and brown coats glisten in the dusky sunlight, and I can tell Will is drinking the whole scene in. There's one thing about Kentucky that's amazing and it's the fact that in a distance of a half hour you can go from suburbia or inner city to farm country. The scenery can be truly gorgeous at times, and I figured it was time to share what people like Jesse Stuart saw with the poet sitting next to me.

I see the smaller road, and point to the turnoff, leaving the bluegrass and the horses for a slight incline, and as the crest of the hill rises, I find the place I wanted to stop. Will carefully puts the car in gear, making sure everything is secure before he gets out, heading over to open the door for me. By the time he gets there, I've already vaulted over the side and am running barefoot into the thicket, breathing in the honeysuckle I love so much. Obviously, I've been here before and I hop on the old swing, kicking my feet back to take off.

He gives me an affectionate look, and I grin broadly. "I love this place. I used to come here all the time when I was in high school. I love the feel of the grass between my toes, and the scent of the flowers," I explain, jumping off the swing with a thud.

"I was lead to believe you were not fond of the outdoors, Darkness."

His expression is reflecting surprise, and I shrug. "For the most part, no. But here…here is special. I don't know why I love it here so much." Oh who the fuck am I kidding? I'm lying through my teeth. I wonder if he can tell, but it seems that he's simply taking in the view, walking past the trees to glance out over the horizon. This observation brings a sigh of relief to my alarmingly tight chest, and I filch the keys from his back pocket, retrieving the basket from the trunk.

There's a large, white blanket folded on top of the basket, and I spread it out on the ground before starting to lay out the food. At the pop of the champagne cork, he turns around, his eyes reflecting delight at the scene I've laid out. The food is all finger friendly (which sounds much naughtier than it really is) and I know the lack of silverware will drive him crazy. Not only that, but no glasses for the champagne either. Let it never be said that I don't know how to push people's buttons, because I am truly an expert.

He kneels down hesitantly, as if he's afraid to get dirty and I roll my eyes at him. "Good Lord, Will. Quit inspecting the blanket and pop a squat. And take off your shoes. The best part of this is the tactile sensations." He chuckles darkly, and it comes to me what I've just said. "Oh, shut up. You know what I mean."

Looking supremely pleased with himself for catching me off-guard, he sits down primly, earning him another eye roll from me. I roll onto my tummy, kicking my feet into the air, and pick up a piece of fried chicken, which has gotten just cold enough for it to be perfect. He looks around, obviously hunting for utensils and plates, and I watch in amusement. "Sorry, this is a decorum free zone. Use your fingers or starve."

He picks up a chicken leg and the look on his face almost makes me choke. That earns me a glare, which only increases how funny he looks holding the chicken between the very tips of his fingers like it's going to bite him. I decide staring at him isn't going to make him loosen up (which should have occurred to me earlier, but can I help it if I get distracted?) and go back to gnawing on my own chicken leg, taking a short swig from the champagne bottle to wash it down. As soon as I set it down, he grabs it, taking a swig as well and I chuckle.

"S'not a contest this time, slugger. No need to guzzle. I know you're a lightweight," I tease, grabbing the bottle back. He gives me a wounded look and I try not to cave. Picking up one of the mini fruit tortes, I pop in my mouth, only to see him still pouting. I sigh heavily. "Alright, who told you I'm a sucker for the lip?"

His lips twitch as he tries not to laugh. "Whatever can you be referring to?" he asks innocently.

My eyes narrow as he goes back to making the dreaded face, and I'd be stomping my foot if I were standing up. As it is, I'm not very threatening sprawled on my belly, and I curse whichever bot or clone that decided it be funny to share one of my greatest weaknesses. Not that I don't constantly handicap myself, cause I do, but I sure as hell don't need anyone's help. "Yeah, yeah, poor innocent you. I've heard it before, trust me."

Yet again, I receive one his bemused looks, and I swear to god, clones can be almost scary with their damn mind reading and non verbal communication. I feel like half the things Will and I have said today weren't even vocalized. It's spooky. I lick my lips, suddenly gripped by a slight feeling of panic, and grab a deviled egg to cover up for it, shoving it in my mouth. As soon I start to chew, I remember why I hate deviled eggs, and I make a disgusted face, trying to force it down. Once it's down, I take another hit from the bottle, hoping it'll neutralize the nasty ass taste in my mouth.

I just know I'm earning another look, and I flounder to cover up for my idiocy. "Er, I guess I haven't told you the story about this place yet, huh?" I ask quickly.

He shakes his head, his gaze flickering over the scenery once more, before settling back on my face. "No, you have not, Darkness."

I sigh deeply and pick at the blanket idly. "It's private property, really. But I've come here so many times; it feels like its mine. Or I used to, anyways." His eyes widen when I say 'private property' and I can only assume he thinks we're going to have an irate farmer chasing us down at any moment. "Don't worry, I know the owners pretty well. They don't even live here for the most part. No one's gonna chase us off."

The relieved look on his face makes me laugh and I wonder if he's more worried about getting chased off or damaging the car on the way out. Probably a bit of both, considering how protective he is of Havoc's gift. I roll off my tummy, standing up and brushing the bits of grass off my legs. Will stands up as well, and I grab his hand, leading him over to the tree. Sitting in the swing again, I give him my best lil girlie look and say "Push me?"

His immediate acquiescence makes me grin, since I know it means my 'widdle ole me' trick works with him just as well as the lip works on me. S'always nice to know where you stand. As I fly through the air, he asks how I found this place and I hedge. I'm not exactly sure how to explain it, and I consider it for a moment. I know once I tell him, I'll have to explain why I brought him here, and to tell the truth, I haven't even figured that out yet myself. I scrape my feet against the ground, scuffing them until the swing stops and I leap off. I didn't take into account the limitations of my current attire, however, and I stumble forward, landing on my knees near the top of the hill.

Will, of course, comes running, which I suppose is better than what Raj would have done, which is point at me and laugh. I'm thoroughly and completely humiliated with my lack of dexterity, and to make up for it, I hook an ankle around his and take him down. He scrabbles over, giving me a stern look and I tickle his sides, which leads to an all out war. From that point, it degenerates to tickles and shrieks and laughs, with hands, arms, and legs flailing about randomly. I find myself pinned to the ground, and rather than give into the urge to just capitulate, I start us rolling about, struggling for dominance again.

Suddenly, one of those moments of clarity hits me when I realize that something's wrong. Before I can react, we're rolling end over end down the grassy hill, seeming to hit every freaking bump and rock in the entire area. At this point, I'm laughing so hard I'm almost crying, clinging to Will as tightly as possible as we tumble towards the bottom. He's laughing as well, and the whole thing just seems so damn typical of the way Will and I interact that it's almost frightening.

We finally slow to stop when the ground flattens out, and I stay sprawled out on my back, laughing and breathing hard, unable to move anywhere until I get myself under control. He looks at me and brushes the wild hair out of my face and I snort. "Must look like a rat's nest now." He starts to speak and I cut him off. "Don't you bloody dare say it's lovely. We just went ass over end down a hill and I know there has to be grass sticking out of it. Now that I mention it…" I reach out pluck a few pieces out of his hair, smirking when I note his ribbon has disappeared.

He gives me what I'm now considering copyrighting as his 'annoying Deli' look, and I snicker. I go back to picking the debris out of his hair, and he returns the favor until I start chuckling again. Damned if I don't feel like a pair of monkeys doing this, and I can't stop from laughing the mental image I've just given myself. He's waiting for me to explain, and I don't even know if I can, so I simply shake my head and he rolls his eyes.

It occurs to me that if our hair is this messy, our clothes must be worse, and I start to inspect the damage. Looking at the grass stains on his clothes, I get the feeling I'll be repaying T for laundry services yet again, and I turn my gaze to myself. To my amazement, the tiny skirt is slit up one thigh to the waist, which means it's just about gone the way of the dodo. The halter has survived intact, surprisingly, and nothing is hanging out where it shouldn't be. Well, except for the fact if I move just right, the world is getting a peep show from the ravaged skirt.

"Thank god I have some cutoffs in the very bottom of the basket. Let's get up there and I'll change," I mutter, standing up. I clutch the skirt together at the side, then realize how stupid that is and let it go. At which point, he chooses to walk behind me, surely out of gentlemanly courtesy. Hell, even I don't buy that one and I thought it.

As we're walking up, something catches my eye, and I hurry over to it, snatching it up off the ground. "Ha!" I say holding it up. His eyes light up when he sees I'm holding his ribbon, and he reaches for it, but I feint away.
"Do you wish to take another spill?" he asks. I shake my head and he reaches for the ribbon again.

"Lemme use it. My hair's messier'n yours and it's all tangly from the ride here," I reply stubbornly. He shakes his head and tries to grab it once more, and I dodge. "Pleeeeeeeeease?" I pout and he sighs heavily, nodding. I wrap it around my hair, tying it back quickly, and grin up at him. "Thanks. I promise I'll give it back before we get home. Don't want you wreckin that fine ass car cause I bogarted your ribbon."

He gives me a look as if I've just spoken Dutch, and I giggle, grabbing his hand and pulling him along. "C'mon. Let's get our butts back to the food and some shorts. I'm itchin to get into some real clothes."