all ages

Oh the pressure… Broney fans (for the non-internet savvy that’s Daytime Television relationship talk for BRIAN AND HONEY) – this one’s for you. Shorts 1-12 and 14-38 are prequels to what happens in Glowing Ghost between Jim and Trix. But Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head is for our favorite quiet, serious couple… who have some not-so-quiet and not-so-serious moments here. I hope it is worthy. J

Random House – Thanks, as long as you don’t sue. Because if you do, you’ll wind up more in debt than I am. J

Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head

by Heather(Trix15)

Brian and Honey made their way to the little barn behind the house. The rain was still a mist but every once in a while a drop of rain from the leaves in the trees would fall on his or Honey’s head. Brian kept walking and he appeared to be in much less hurry now that they were away from the immediate eyes of the rest of the Bob-Whites. They stopped however, as one particularly large drop landed in Honey’s eye.

"I had one shower this morning," Honey said to Brian.

"What?" he asked.

"The rain. It’s pretty much ended, but I guess the water will stick around on the leaves for a while and…" she slowed down, her words trailing off as she realized that Brian was standing there open mouthed. "What?"

He shook himself as another drop landed on his nose. She laughed. He loved the sound of it. "Nothing," he grinned. "I was just thinking about how good rain looks on you."

She cocked her head to one side and one corner of her mouth tilted up in a lopsided smile. "Well, in that case, I should think it’d look good on you as well."

His eyes questioned.

She gave a mischievous grin and banged on the young tree they were under, laughing as droplets fell heavily from above.

"You think that’s funny, do you?"

In answer, she merely pushed on the tree again and made a run for the barn, laughing delightfully as she did so. By the time Brian had caught up with her, she had already stepped inside the barn door. Brian made his way through it, still laughing as they turned to each other, trying to catch their breath from the small romp.

As the door closed behind them with a resounding bang however, vision became difficult. Although the rain had now stopped, it was still dim in the building. A stillness hung in the air, lending the morning that quality of the unrevealed. Brian lit one of the lanterns that had been left there the night before, and set it down. It gave light, but not much. Shadows were cast in various corners and Honey wasn’t too happy about this. Brian noticed and took her hand again, giving it a squeeze.

Unbeknownst to him, she looked down at their intertwined hands and let her face relax. The tension seemed to leak away. She let herself indulge in thoughts that had been on the back burner ever since she had met Brian almost a year ago. After racing down the hill to Trixie’s home and coming upon her with her two brothers, she had paused in shyness and embarrassment. Trixie’s older brother had to have been the most handsome thing she had ever laid eyes on. And lo and behold, she had just charged down the hillside like a banshee. Her greeting to them was rather subdued, but she’d never forgotten the warm smile he’d given her. She’d not forgotten so many things about Brian. And lately, well lately these things that she had placed on the back burner were unwillingly coming to the forefront of her mind.

Not that they were unwelcome thoughts. On the contrary, they were very much of interest to her. But, much like the last few moments they had spent together, they were also very dichotomous; fun and spontaneous, but frightening and unknown as well.

Last winter, when Honey had spent time staying with Trixie’s family while her own was out of town, she and Brian had many moments to speak together. He would often come in to help her with whatever she was doing to help with dinner. Sometimes, as she worked on mending for Mrs. Belden, he’s appear out of nowhere, just to talk it seemed. And when she’d first arrived, the antics he had used to gain control of her suitcase before Mart… her lips smiled as she recalled that day.

"What are you grinning about?" Brian’s voice broke into her reverie. "Don’t think that I’ve forgotten, or will forget about the second and third showers you gave me out there. Some time, when you’re least expecting it Miss Wheeler, I’ll – "

"You’ll what?" she giggled. "I have a big brother to protect me from you," she laughed, playfully swinging their arms back and forth through the air.

Brian merely snorted. "Something tells me that if I told Jim, he’d understand. He’s also probably got something that he needs to get Trixie about as well. We’d have a field day getting revenge on you both."

"Careful, now. It’s always dangerous plotting revenge on two up and coming detectives," she laughed.

Brian’s eyes grew serious. "Honey, could I ask you something?"

She turned to face him, curious and… excited about what he might desire to know. "Yes. Of course."

"Are you really serious about becoming a detective? Really? I mean, I know Trixie is. But are you? Is it really something you want to do?"

Honey released her breath slowly, which she hadn’t realized that she had held. She felt something curious in the pit of her stomach. She wasn’t sure exactly what it was but she suspected the feeling was disappointment.

She gently released his hand and moved to perch on the seat of the riding lawn mower, which was just inside the door. "Well, yes. I mean, I can’t say that it’s ever really a career I thought about going into. Actually, I can’t say that I have ever thought much about a career, except fashion design, and that’s really because it’s all I’ve known growing up. I sew well, I ride well and I swim well, but I’ll never be an Olympic swimmer or equestrienne."

"I think you could be," he said softly.

She smiled. "I thank you for that, Brian. But really, those last two choices are out of the question. Brian – would you mind my asking you why you’re asking? I mean, it might help me understand how to answer you."

He’d been afraid when he asked his question that this might happen. "Well – I guess I’m just curious. I mean, if you’d never thought about it before, what happened after meeting Trixie that made you want to? Except that fact that hanging around with her necessitates the involvement in mystery. I – I guess I just…" he paused and stopped. "I guess well, here we are, alone, which doesn’t happen often with our clan. And I really just want to get to know you more." His last words came out in a rush. "I’m sorry, I hope I haven’t upset you, or anything."

"No, Brian," she said, standing up and moving towards him. "Of course not. And so I’ll tell you. But only if you tell me something about yourself as well."

Even in the dim light, she could see his face light up with a smile. Internally, he was berating himself, because here was the chance to ask almost anything he wanted and he wasn’t sure it was her career choice that he wanted answers to first and foremost. But her very simple response to him, confirmation that she desired to get to know him better as well, told him that at least one of his primary questions had been answered. "It’s a deal," he said.

Honey smiled back at him before moving away to look out of the window. Off across the property, she could make out the figures of Jim, Trixie, Mart and Diana pulling the moveable brush towards a big pile. She knew that they should find the saws and hurry back to the others, but this time was too precious to waste. They could cope for a bit longer.

"Well, I think I know why you’re asking. My father asked me the same question not too very long after we got back from New York. And believe me, we talked about it for a while. And I guess the simple answer is that yes, I do. I don’t really know how that will manifest itself one day. Perhaps we won’t have the Belden-Wheeler Detective Agency. Maybe we’ll both join the FBI. Maybe we’ll both be policewomen. Maybe we’ll go into law. I don’t know really. We’re still young. But, and I never really realized this about myself until I met Trixie, I love the stimulation of a good mystery. Honestly, I don’t know that I have all of the instincts that Trixie has. She just has some sixth sense about her. But the unknown, while scary to me sometimes…" her voice dropped low. She didn’t want Brian to think she was a sissy. "The unknown is exciting as well. Why go through life without being excited, or stimulated."

Brian had trouble not groaning.

"And maybe there’s a small part of me that’s being perverse. Maybe a part of me wants to show everyone who thinks or thought I would grow up to be just a wife or something prissy and fu-fu, that there’s so much more to me. There is, Brian." She sounded just a bit like she wanted desperately to convince him.

He was quiet for so long that she wondered what she’d said. Then he spoke. "I know there is. And what’s important to me is not what career you choose. I’ll respect whatever you want to do with your life. I can’t say it won’t worry the mess out of me," he laughed, " but I will respect it. What’s important to me, Honey Wheeler, is finding out that ‘so much more’ that you spoke of."

She felt as though her heart had begun to sing a thousand songs. Their words were somewhat on the surface. Nothing had been declared directly. But somehow, she knew exactly what he meant, and she knew as well that she felt the same. It was time to let him know.

"Then, Dr. Belden, reciprocate. I know you want to be a doctor and it took me only a few minutes of being in your presence to know why and that you’ll make the best one there is. So tell me something else about you," Honey smiled at him.

"What do you want to know?’

This was it. This was her chance to let him know. "Everything," she said in a hush.

He was equally quiet as he looked at her, his eyes trying to read hers. "Everything?"

She nodded.

He shook his head. "I can’t do that."

She narrowed her eyes in anxiety.

His eyes brightened in silent laughter.

"I’m kidding. The opportunity arose for me to take my revenge and I had to take it. Forgive me?"

"I’ll think about it," she said seriously without a trace of a smile.

He raised his eyebrows, a flash of hurt crossing his face.

"Just kidding," she grinned.

He rolled his eyes, his heart pounding in anticipation of where this was all going. He was going to enjoy getting to know Honey Wheeler better. "Everything. Coming right up," he smiled.

"You big jokester," she smiled as she shook her head, her honey colored hair swinging gently across her shoulders as she turned her head downwards so he couldn’t see just how truly amused she was at his antics.

Honey had sat back down on the riding mower. Brian drew closer to her as if being more physically near her could calm his heart. He felt like running outside and doing a rain dance. The mere thought gave him the idea for the first thing he’d tell his new… well… his Honey.

"I love the rain. I love the sound of it. I love the feel of it on my face, my skin, and my hair. There’s just something soothing and magical about it. I know it can be inconvenient at times. Last night with El, well we could have done without it. But when I’m in my room, even when I should be studying, or reading, sometimes I just have to sit and listen to it. It’s so peaceful, and magical. I feel as though I am completely at peace and that the world is at peace. Maybe, if everyone could feel that same peace, we’d all be better off. There’s little replacement for how relaxed it makes me. Sometimes I wonder if I should go practice medicine in the rainforest."

Honey seriously wondered if there was a need for detectives in the rainforest.

"I know all of that must sound quite inane. But I don’t know. It’s just something that I feel very special about." He kind of shook himself, almost as if waking up from a trance. He nearly dreaded looking at Honey, afraid that he’d see laughter in her face. But when he raised his eyes to hers, all he saw was the warm tenderness of someone who was sensitive enough to realize what a vulnerable moment Brian had just had. Not many men talked about something so tender. It was beautiful.

"It’s not inane. It’s you. And that makes it special. Thank you for sharing it with me."

With an egg timer you could have clocked the time they spent simply enjoying being in the other’s presence. The moment was broken by a shout from outside.

"What are you two doing in there? Saws? Remember those things? Used for cutting wood? Hello? Do we need to send a search party?’

It was Mart’s voice, but during his speech, they could hear Diana and Trixie’s voices shushing him. Jim’s voice was conspicuously absent.

Brian sighed. "We should find the saws and get back."

"We should," Honey agreed, but rather unwillingly.

They searched and managed to find only one small pruning saw. Grabbing it in one hand, Brian reached out with his other hand and took Honey’s. She pulled open the door and the exited the building.

I’ll never forget this barn, Honey thought to herself as they walked back under the trees. "Brian?"

They stopped walking. "Yeah?"

"Peace be with you." She smiled softly and reached to her right and pushed the tree. For a long moment, both stood there looking up at and feeling the drops falling.

He turned towards her one last time. Reaching up his hand, he brushed one stay drop that had landed at the corner of her mouth. "And also with you."