While they made the short walk towards the Kite Hill next to the Gas Works Park, Alice felt a tingle on the back of her hand close to where Robin's hung in the air. 

It tickled up her arm. Towards her heart and burst into flutters as their fingers grazed each others.

Binged up Alice gave a snigger. She looked up to see Robin's cheeks tinted with a feint blush and eyes sparkling in a lighter shade of olive as she faltered in her tale about her day working at her aunt's bistro.

The Kite Hill was hidden behind a dark green and high line of trees. Upon crossing they saw an area of grass patches and a hill. The coast of Lake Union was in the background, a huge bay in the middle of Seattle. From afar Alice could see the rows of ships lining up like gray and white dots in the dark blue. She smiled thinking about her papa at home.

After climbing to a higher part of the hill, Robin and her spread out the blanket which Alice had not forgotten to bring along.

"What do we have?"

"Marmalade sandwiches!" Alice exclaimed grinning from one ear to another as she reopened the basket and revealed dozens of what was undoubtedly, the best version of sandwiches in the whole world.

Robin laughed wholeheartedly, her voice brightened, and dropped onto her buttocks on the blanket next to her. She leaned forward to glimpse into the basket. "Did you rob a marmalade store?"

"Oh, no. I always keep a stock on marmalade in my room," Alice replied.

"For rainy days?"

"And sunny ones."

They shared a giggle before grabbing each a wrapped up marmalade sandwich.

Munching the sweet treat, Alice looked at the sky filled with kites.

Usual rectangular shaped ones drifted lazily in front of the pastel blue. One kite looking like a caterpillar passed them by, crawling through the air above the Gas Works Park, an old coal gasification plant which was shut down and made into a park. It looked like it belonged to a Steam Punk movie. Old, rusty pipes winding themselves around huge rusty tanks like brown snakes. It was one of the curious things in Seattle.

By Joe Mabel [CC BY-SA 3.0]

Alice hoped, if Robin was up to it, they could seek out a little adventure exploring the park later.

She was sure, together with Robin everything would be an adventure!

Next to her the brunette released a content sigh, reflecting on her own emotions.

The silence between them was comfortable. Magical. They needed no words to chase their dreams or silence their fears.

Life was good.

Last week she sold her picture, Captain's Call.

She had paid it a visit while Robin had been in New York, wanting to say goodbye to the picture which had been a part of her old life before the anonymous buyer would take it home and make it a part of their life after the exhibition closed.

And now she was together with Robin. The woman who quickly became a new part of her life in a most charming way.

Life was perfect.

Her eyes followed the movements of the caterpillar again. She smiled as it closed in to a pipe shaped kite seesawing nearby.

Struck by inspiration Alice picked up her phone and shot photos of them making advances.

A bubbly laughter rose from her as she looked at the last picture of the caterpillar smoking on the pipe above the Gas Works Park.

"That looks amazing," Robin purred leaning over Alice's shoulder, breath tingling against her ears and neck, effectively scattering goosebumps on Alice's skin.

"Not as impressive as the photo of you on the ferry with the Statue of Liberty in the background," Alice replied, recalling the photo of the beautiful woman and a man who Robin said was her cousin Henry on the ferry. The wind had lifted brunette tresses into the air and waved them behind her head. A moment caught in time, which Robin had thankfully shared with her.

"Too bad we don't have a kite," Robin startled Alice out of her daydream. "We should come here again in fall, when the winds are at their strongest, see if they can lift us of the ground."

Alice's face fell.

Here she was, having believed she had thought of everything while ignoring the most obvious detail. Alice frowned and admitted, "I should have thought about bringing a kite."

"Don't worry. This is perfect," the other woman uttered and raised a shoulder. "To be honest I don't like flying these things too much. What I like the most about it is running down the hill at full speed."

Smiling Alice pictured Robin's hair flying in the wind and her laughing. Inspiration was at work again.

"We don't need a kite for that," Alice jumped onto her feet and offered a hand to Robin.

A grin spread on pinkish lips. "Alice Jones, are you asking me to run downhill with you?"

"Uhu," Alice chimed brightly and giddily buried her teeth into her lips. Running or walking, uphill or downhill, she liked the idea of Robin by her side.

"Let's do it," Robin said and let herself be pulled up by Alice. Taking a position next to Alice she did not let go of her hand but began to count, "One."

"Two," Alice joined in with her grin widening possibly impossible degree.

"Three," they said in union and dashed forward.

Gravity tore at their lifted feet and pushed them forward.

With long strides they ran. Rushing downhill they had to keep their balance, while their laughter left their lungs dry.

Alice almost tripped over her own feet on an even stripe of pavement and Robin raised their clasped hands to pull her closer. Chuckling Alice bumped into her and caused them both to sway.

It was perfect.

They raced down. Further and further. Until they reached the foot of the hill and slowed down close to the coast. Both of them were winded. Breathless laughter bent their bodies forwards and backwards.

Arms leaned on her knees Alice guffawed and did not stop, even as she felt the need of air start to burn her stomach began to hurt. Tears trickled down her cheeks.

"Alice?" Robin gasped out.

Alice raised her eyes and was immediately enchanted by the olive green eyes glimmering softly. "Yes," she said with a rough voice and swapped away the tears of laughter.

A smile bordering between insecurity and conviction stretched on Robin's lips."Can I kiss you?"

Alice jumped at the question.

She was not ready yet.

No. Robin was not prepared yet!

"I am sorry but," she started and when Robin's smile fell she quickly tried to explain herself, "It's not because I don't want to. But there are things you should know first. You should know that I have no experience. I've never seen or been with somebody before and I don't know anything about relationships. I am not sure, if I am going to be a good girlfriend for you and you deserve the best girlfriend. Also I am a mess. But you should know that already. Unless you did not notice before. So if you didn't, you ought to know I am all kinds of messy in my head and in my life. People always call me – "

"Alice," Robin intervened.

Alice raised her gaze again. She had not been aware she had dropped it to the ground.

"Do you want me to kiss you?" Robin asked and took a step forwards.

Alice puffed out a breath as all of her arguments deflated by the question and Robin's proximity.

Hope and anticipation showered over her, vibrating through her chest and rushing tickles over her body.

She wanted to kiss Robin.

Very much.

"More than you could possibly know," she breathed out. A new load of tears gather in her eyes.

Robin's eyes traced her face, skipped up and down as she took another step closer.

Alice's was breath caught in her chest.

Her heart jumped as Robin slowly leaned closer, eyes dropping shut.

Alice did the same.

In the moment of anticipation, the second of waiting for the touch Alice nerves drizzled beneath her skin. Like crackling embers.

She felt Robin's breath on her cheek. 

Smelled the sweet scent of marmalade twinged with a flowery perfume. 

Heard the drumming of her own heart.

Dum.

Dum. Dum.

She was growing warm all over but shivered.

When Robin's lips finally met hers, her chest deflated in relief and roared back to life in pleasure.

The touch was gentle. Soft. But oh so powerful.

Robin grazed her lips with a tiny hum. 

Alice's senses tingled and her heart sped up. The thunder of its beats drowned out any other noise as it pumped fiercely inside her chest and resounded in her ears.

Licks of fire raced up and down her body and whizzed over her skin and tickled along her spine.

She was lost and safe. 

Cold and hot. 

Her mind swam and cleared up. 

She was caught but never felt so free.

She trembled when Robin's hand rose to her neck and caressed the line of her baby hair and changed the angle slightly to deepen the kiss capturing Alice's lips between hers.

Overwhelmed with feelings Alice gasped and grabbed the shoulders of the brunette to keep herself steady on her feet. 

Robin exhaled sharply against her cheek and planted her lips onto Alice's again. More firmly this time.

There was a pull in Alice's stomach, not unpleasantly but unfamiliar. 

Courageously Alice leaned in wanting to learn more about the sensations stirred by the motion. Moving her lips against Robin's she felt the tingling intensify. 

Their lips were two charged wires striking a spark. Alice was rewarded with the feeling of Robin's fingers quivering against her neck.

When they broke the kiss, Alice looked into bright eyes, green flames of fire.

A/N: Is it warm here or is it just me? Phew, you have no idea how often I worked on the kissing scene. It was my pleasure, though. Hehe...

Forgot that I wanted to mention that the previous part of this chapter was inspired by Kealla Seattle - "This Is Me". Lots of love to anyone whose weakness was turned against them or who feel lonely and trapped in their small world. Remember you're all amazing and NOT ALONE. There will always be someone who will see how beautiful you are!!!

Also this part was inspired by a German idiom about being able to steal horses with somebody. There is no similar idiom in English to translate this idea. Being game for anything or being a good sport hits close but it has not the same implications. Anyway... That's what I think Alice and Robin are. Not only are they supportive but can have lots of unconventional, lively fun together, most people might claim as reckless or crazy.

Okay now I stop rambling about things you might find boring... Question: Was it too fluffy? I've been too sappy and emotional for a while now to notice. XD

Keep in mind that the glossary is updated with every new part (there is only one new note with this part though). ;) And also vote and/or comment if you liked it.